CP W3 D5 The Lost Son - The future (Luke 15:11-32)

We take a final look at the Parable of the Lost Son, focusing on the future. What happens after the father speaks to the second son? What happens the next morning?

I think that out in the field after talking to the second (older) son, the father repeats his invitation a couple of times and then sadly returns to the party. After waiting a while, the father sends out a favorite servant with a plate of food to the older son, providing for his needs and giving another invitation. By doing this he sends the message the the older son is loved too.

The next morning continues as the night before. The father rebuilds the relationship with the first (younger) son, and the older son remains distant. It's a long slow process for the younger son. Yes he is accepted back immediately, and the father loves him. The longer process is for the younger son to accept the father's love, as some of his old ways of wild living remain. But his heart is very open to the father's love and he steadily improves.

The older son holds the grudge. He boxes off "his share" of the father's wealth and never misses an opportunity to remind the younger son that his father's wealth is his. Initially his heart hardens over time. But it is a long slow process for the older son too - much longer. Slowly, the older son starts appreciating the father's love - not just his wealth. It probably helps that there are bumps along the journey, brief times where the tables are turned and the older son breaks away and then is accepted back.

The father's love for both his sons, though is unconditional and constant. Over a very long time span, both sons grow to value it above the father's wealth. In the end, there is reconciliation and the remaining wealth (which has grown over time) is shared by all.