The term "prodigal son" is very common in English literature. It refers to an oft referenced, much loved story by Jesus about a son who runs away, wastes a lot of money and then is received back by his father. The prodigal son receives an amazingly warm welcome from his loving, now rejoicing father. (Luke 15) Millions love the story because Jesus, in this familiar but dramatic story, was showing us how loving and forgiving is our Heavenly Father. His arms are wide open to all rebels (and every human is naturally a rebel) who humbly return to Him.
We are called to be like our Father having open arms and open hearts, loving as Jesus loved and still loves.
However today I was reading in Luke 13 - same book and same Jesus as found in Luke 15. It stands in contrast - in much of Jesus' teaching there are contrasts - to the open arm picture of the waiting Father. Jesus in this passage is responding to what appears to be a sincere question, though why it was asked we are not told.
“He drew a circle that shut me out, Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout
But love and I had the wit to win, We drew a circle that took him in.”
(Edwin Markham)
We are called to be like our Father having open arms and open hearts, loving as Jesus loved and still loves.
However today I was reading in Luke 13 - same book and same Jesus as found in Luke 15. It stands in contrast - in much of Jesus' teaching there are contrasts - to the open arm picture of the waiting Father. Jesus in this passage is responding to what appears to be a sincere question, though why it was asked we are not told.
Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’" (13:22 - 25)
He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’" (13:22 - 25)
This story that starts with a narrow door and then a door that is shut, leaving people outside is not a popular story. In our day, at least in Western society, anything that smacks of exclusion, that does not embrace all, is distasteful and rejected, especially in regard to religion.
Yet both of these pictures of God are presented by our infallible Lord. One everyone enjoys (Luke 15). One that none of us like. Who wants to picture our loving Father keeping some humans out of his eternal home. Yet surely this is what Jesus teaches.
Not popular today - rejected by a number of "evangelical Christians". Yet if we are true followers of Jesus we must accept and believe both stories - and other teaching of Jesus and the rest of the NT that are similar.
God offers wide open arms, but a narrow door. Jesus is the Door.
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