How Much God Loves Us. How We Love Others

In Luke 15:11-32 “ The Parable of the Prodigal's Son”, Jesus was spending time with people of questionable reputation who were listening to him intently. The religious scholars were not at all happy with this situation. In fact they grumbled accusing Jesus of sinful behavior—associating and eating and dining with sinners as if they were his friends. How could he! His response might be surprising—the story of the prodigal's son. The father has two sons. The younger one comes to him and wants now, his share of his father's estate. What happens? The father gives it to him, probably to the son's astonishment. The son goes off and squanders it all and ends up destitute, alone, hungry and feeding pigs slop. Repenting he returns home, hoping that just maybe--just possibly, his father might allow him to be a lowly servant on his father's estate. Instead the father sees the son coming, runs to greet him, and throws a party to celebrate his return. At the same time the father must respond to the older son who has been attending to his daily responsibilities and now feels angry, jealous, and slighted.

Scot McKnight enhances our understanding of the strength of this love by explaining biblical customs at that time. When a young man, through his behavior, disgraced his father then ran away from him and later returned, the elders of the village interceded. They took him to the center of the village and broke a pot at his feet. This was an act of legal banishment from the community. Some scholars think that the father (who must have been looking daily for his son) ran to his son to get to him first to prevent the tragic separation of his son from the community. The father showed that no rebuke was necessary. His return showed a repentant heart. In fact he joyfully celebrates his repentant son's return and restores him to the community. (Scott McKnight, The Jesus Creed, Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press, 2002, pp. 29, 30)

What was Jesus up to? What does this say about God's love for us? What about our love for others?

This book is deceptively easy to read but insightful in uncovering God's plan for each of us. I recommend it to all and am looking forward to hearing Scott McKnight.

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