The whole story

Luke 15 

To read if you have time to take it all in.

The key episode

Luke 15:11-32

Read this if you only have time for the main narrative.

The tale in a nutshell

“We should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found” Luke 15:32 (CEV).

Imagine a family get-together; someone retells the story about what happened on your first day at school, or another similarly significant moment in your childhood. You probably get irritated every time you hear it. But just imagine if another person who was present on your first day at school reveals new details or questions the family’s version of the story. Will you be annoyed, intrigued or puzzled? New details or ways of looking at something are not always easy to accept, even though they may introduce another valid memory. The way we react to the often-repeated stories of Jesus are no exception - we’ve heard it all before! Or have we…?

Jesus’ story known as ‘The prodigal son’ is one of his best known. Described as ‘the gospel in a nutshell’, it is a story full of detail with a family drama at its heart. Just about anyone can relate to a young son who runs away from home, then comes back to receive forgiveness from his loving dad. Breakdown and forgiveness, a naughty boy, a forgiving father… a great storyline!

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Yet there are problems with this shortened version of the story. What about the older brother? Often the story ends with the welcome-home party. But isn’t there a discarded punchline? This story has so much more to offer us. Some stories of Jesus are brief and to the point, though not necessarily easy to interpret. This story is long and involved and rewards deeper reflection. There are three main characters and, implicitly, a number of others - the villagers living nearby, the owner of the pig farm in the far-off land and we mustn’t forget the people in the Gospel of Luke who originally listened to the story. (It’s also interesting to note that there’s no mention of the mother.)

We want to suggest you try to read this story as though for the first time. Allow yourself to enter it, ask as many questions as you can, choose a character and wonder at their reactions. The following questions may get you started:

  • Who is Jesus telling this story to? Why do you think he might be telling it? (You have to go back a few verses to consider previous stories - see Luke 15:1-10). Why might the Pharisees have been put out?
  • Look at the father in the story. How might he have felt about the behaviour of both of his sons? Might he have had a favourite son? What might his friends, neighbours or other people in the village have thought of him when the younger son leaves? What about his behaviour once his younger son returns? (An older man who raced in an undignified way through the village was courting disapproval; although had he not done so, his son could well have been lynched by the villagers for bringing dishonour on his father and the village community.)
  • The elder son is a shadowy but important character in the story. How might he have felt when his brother left? Was he glad to receive his half of the property? How ought he to have supported his father? What are we told about him before his brother leaves and when he returns? Where does he end up?
  • In many ways the younger son is the least interesting character in the story. What might the crowd and the Pharisees think of his actions?
  • It’s impossible to answer many of these questions but using our imaginations can bring the story alive for us as individuals. If you had heard Jesus tell this story, what would he be saying to you about yourself and God?

Jesus was a great teacher. Sometimes he gave straightforward teaching. Sometimes he commented on how the religious teachers were interpreting the scriptures. But he is best known as a teacher-storyteller. He told stories on purpose, stories rooted in the culture in which he lived. His stories are characteristically very open-ended. They invite discussion and exploration and often argument and disagreement. They are memorable and sometimes disturbing. Sometimes the ending takes us by surprise.

We all love stories. A really good one is worth hearing again and again. If children and young people say they’ve heard it before, we can remind them that they probably haven’t heard it now when they are a year older than they were this time last year. As children’s and youth workers we need to continue to work hard at our own effectiveness as storytellers. Our challenge is to take every opportunity to open up the world of Jesus’ stories to their minds and imaginations. So, let’s think about what questions our listeners might ask about this story, and what questions we might ask them.

Questions about the cultural details and storyline

These are especially important as everyday life in Bible stories is far-removed from their world. For example, why is pig-farming seen in such a negative way? After all, a litter of piglets are so sweet. What is today’s pig-farm equivalent? They may not understand inheritance customs. Why give a robe, a ring or sandals as a welcome-home present?

Questions that emerge from contemporary observations

Identifying with a young man going in search of a better life:

Many young people grow up with the expectation that, if it’s possible, they should aim to be the best or get the best for themselves. Is Jesus saying that, given a choice, that’s an OK ambition, even if it means wishing a parent were dead (in order to claim an early inheritance) or damaging a relationship with family members? It seemed to all work out well in the end for this guy, right?

Falling out with brothers and sisters, sometimes irreparably:

Here are two brothers who hold a grievance against each other. Or is it just the older brother who holds the grievance? Has he been angry for years or did he only get angry when his brother left him to do all the work on the farm? Is it fair that the father forgives the younger son? What is clear is that the father is full of sorrow with his elder son’s attitude and pleads with him to welcome his brother home.

Some young people and children may not have experienced committed parental love:

Does this story say anything about this? How might they respond? What does forgiveness mean?

Jesus’ stories are kaleidoscopic - always challenging those listening to open their ears to what they reveal about God!

The crunch question: What is Jesus telling his hearers (including us) about God?

The context of this story in Luke 15 gives us clues to answer this question. Firstly, Jesus himself was role-modelling the love of God by associating with those on the fringe of society: the tax collectors and sinners (verse 1). All three parables in this chapter end with an elaborately joyful celebration because a comparatively insignificant animal, object or person has been found and restored to its owner or family.

Jesus draws the parallel with the joy there is in heaven when one lost person truly repents. We might rejoice at the success of one of our ventures, the numbers who continue to come to a Sunday or midweek group, the vibrancy of the worship we provide… yet exuberant joy in heaven is not found in numbers, success, volume or quality, but in one person who comes to Christ. The heart of God almost bursts with joy. God loves us and longs for us to return to him.

Secondly, his audience included the largely hostile Pharisees and teachers of the law. In the story of the lost sheep, Jesus draws attention to the 99 sheep that were not lost, that is, those who didn’t think they needed to return to God, who see themselves as already righteous. This, along with the significant older brother’s self-righteous detachment in the third story, would not be lost on Jesus’ critics. They have excluded themselves from the party in heaven. God, the father, would have it otherwise!

This is a deeply profound and multi-layered story. Drama, a rewrite for a modern era, creating visual images, musical stimuli, imagining additional details are all valuable ways into the story. But let’s not lose sight of what Jesus wanted his hearers to understand about God. This stands for all ages.

“Are you sitting comfortably?” As adults supporting children and young people, let’s open ourselves to fresh ways of looking at this story and expect God to surprise us! Just don’t get too comfortable!

Reflect

Have we lost touch with this topsy-turvy, revolutionary truth about God - the forgiveness offered and the celebration when someone returns to him? Spend some moments quietly reflecting on what this says to you, and what it says about your ministry.

Act

Identify children or young people you have contact with who might be cast in the roles of younger or older brother. Pray for them, that both ‘brothers’ would meet with God and know this life-changing forgiveness.

How can you act like the father and show God’s love and forgiveness to children and young people this month? Are there any (proverbial) lynchings you can prevent?

Robert and Ro Willoughby are engaged in ministry with people of all ages at St Michael’s Highgate.

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