Today, I want to focus in on a big aspect of the teaching of Jesus: parables. Parables are used frequently in the bible, and in total, there are about 31 unique parables told in the gospels and 55 total if you count those that are repeated among the gospels. So what is a parable? Well, a parable is an earthy story that also has a heavenly meaning. These are stories told by Jesus using illustrations of everyday life for those he was teaching. Ultimately, he used them to convey a deeper message of divine truth. So why did Jesus use them? Jesus used them because they were relatable and something with which his audience could connect. It’s ethos, which we have been talking about all year. Also, everyone loves stories! So, these parables were easy to focus on and also easy to remember, making them great to recount to other people.
Now that we have an understanding of what a parable is and why Jesus used them, lets dive in to one. How about my favorite: The Parable of the Prodigal Son! You can read the parable here in Luke 15: 11-32.
I hope you took the time to read that passage, because it is truly beautiful and relates heavily to us today. First, there is the main character, the youngest son. This son thinks he knows what he wants, so he runs off from home and wastes all of his money recklessly living. When he hits rock bottom, all his friends desert him and lend him no help. He is left with the only option to return home to face his father. This is us, the human race; we think we know what is best and run off and take control of our lives, choosing to sin against God. We drink, gamble, have sex with whomever, and find happiness in money and possessions. Sound like anyone you know? Sound like a lot of college living? But this lifestyle expires and leaves the son empty and alone. He needs to go back to the father, just like we need to go back to our heavenly father.
Next we see the father’s response, a representation of God. We expect him to harass the son, punish him, or turn him away: all things that he deserves. However, we don’t see this; we see the father excitedly run to the son, embrace him, show him love and affection, and call for celebration. This kind of unconditional love and forgiveness is unfathomable to us and leaves us speechless, but this is the love that God has for us. We bring our rags of failure and sin to Him, and He makes us clean and forgiven. He provides us with the happiness and fulfillment for which we have been longing. We ran away when it was always with Him, and this reuniting is all possible because of Jesus. He paid the punishment on the cross for all the rejection and eternal death we deserved. All we have to do is recognize this, believe in it, and run back to our father, God, to ask for forgiveness and accept His love: a beautiful truth.
But this parable is my favorite because it does not end there. We see this celebration and joy, and then, it is immediately juxtaposed with the resentment and anger of the older son. He is there saying, “I have been here the whole time, obeying you, and yet you allow my brother to return and celebrate for him.” And I love this, because this is us too sometimes. Just like you know someone who has abandoned God to party and live a deviant life, I’m sure you know someone who already knows the truth of the gospel, has received the loving embrace from the father, and is now a religious hypocrite or a prideful Christian who views themselves as better than others. When Jesus told this parable, he was directing this portion toward the Pharisees (priests) of the time, who held this self-superior attitude. Yet, it is a complete facade. Regardless of where you are in your walk with God, you are still a sinner who needs His forgiveness and love as equally as anyone else, and you should rejoice when we seen someone’s life reversed and rejuvenated.
Thus, I hope you can find joy in reading and marinating on this passage of scripture. Regardless of where you are in life, or how far your have strayed from God’s plan for you, run to your Father who is running toward you with open arms; revel and bask in this immaculate love; and help others see this unparalleled truth.
p.s. If you are looking for a peaceful time to reflect on this message, I encourage you to listen to the song “Prodigal Son- Long Walk Home” by Brian Morykon. Here is a link to his album “The Smallest Seed.” You can click on the song to preview it (track 7), or you can download the whole album legally for free, which I recommend because it is a piece of art. Go Noisetrade!
“Did he just combine his passion blog from last semester with this semester’s?!?!”
Awesome post! I enjoyed reading about parables and especially the one that you shared. I can totally totally relate to stories like these and I think that almost everyone else can too. The teachings of these stories can be put to use in everyday life. God is always going to be open to us and he will always take care of us.
Great post, Nate! I really enjoyed reading about parables, specifically your favorite parable that you shared. I think it is stories like these that are so related to almost all members of society that make the Bible and its teachings so accessible. You did an great job relating the parable you shared with the lives of your readers: college students.
I like this parable because everyone can relate to at least one of the brothers. I also went and found the song and I love how it describes a starving soul that needs the nourishment of God. No matter how hard we try to run away from God, we need Him, so we will always be drawn back to God and welcomed with open arms.