Luke 15:17-24
And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

He came to himself in that place of desperate need and decided to go back home. It was a long journey, for he had gone to a far country. It was probably a difficult journey, as he was weak with hunger. It seems he had lost everything that he had, and so all he has to bring with him is his regret and sorrow, that practiced speech to say to his father, hope for just a morsel from his father’s abundance. He has deemed himself unworthy to be his father’s son any longer, and so, finally humbled, he is willing to be a mere servant in his father’s house, perhaps knowing in himself that he could never make up for all of his sin.

So what is the father’s perspective? The son must have been quite a sight as he made his way back, weak and weary, dirty, burdened by the prospect of his father’s reception, filled with shame over what he had done, bearing the weight of the consequences of his selfish choices and actions. And so when the father saw him afar off, stumbling towards home, what did he do? How did he respond? Not with anger. Not with condemnation. Not with criticism. Not with a mind to punish. He ran to meet him—to uplift him, to embrace him, to kiss him, to welcome him home with abundant grace and love. He didn’t disown him as his son, but showered him with gifts, a feast to fill his empty stomach, soft clothing to comfort his weary body, shoes for his aching feet.

It was new life that the father offered to this son who was dead and was now alive. And was he worthy of all of this? No, not really. That’s what made his brother so angry. But that is the point of mercy. That is the result of love, the most unworthy receiving such a thing from a gracious and loving father. This is my Father’s heart. This is my Father’s love. When I have gone astray, He does not disown me. He does not take away my position as His precious child. He does not deem me unworthy, but He rejoices that I have returned. He offers me forgiveness. He seeks to comfort, strengthen, and encourage me after a long journey away. He embraces me with a heart of joy. He fills me with His goodness. He tends to my needs. He offers healing. Oh, what love, what grace, what mercy, what cause for celebration when the lost is found.