Luke 15:20-24

When his father saw him. Up to this point the parable tells a story that has happened many times in this world. Countless people have acted like this younger son. But the real difference in this parable is the Father who waited! The father waiting and watching and while the younger son was still a long way from home, the father saw him! And he ran. No sober dignity! No stern demands! [God runs to meet the sinner who is bringing himself home. See notes on Acts 2:36-38.] Father, the son said. And as the son confesses his sins, the Father is saying: "Hurry! Bring the best robe. Put a ring on his finger. shoes. prize calf. but now he is alive!" [God gives everyman the gift of freedom, which can be misused. He waits and hopes for everyman's return. He runs when he sees everyman bringing himself back home. He does not say: "You are only coming back because you are hungry; go back to your pigs until you can become pure and spiritual." It is this HUMILITY of God that the Jewish leaders could not understand. They thought one who had deliberately sinned should not be allowed to come back at all. But God was RUNNING to meet everyman in the historical ACT of the Cross. See 1 Corinthians 2:9 and notes there.]