Of all the stories that Jesus told, the parable of the prodigal son is the most famous, and it takes us to the heart of the good news. The son was a complete embarrassment. Can you think of anything worse than a son asking for his inheritance while his father was still alive? He then, predictably, went off and squandered the money and ended up stony broke. He was so desperate that all he could do was find a job feeding pigs, and for a Jew, you couldn’t imagine a worse job – they were banned from eating pork.

The people would have listened to Jesus with rapt attention, but when they heard that the son had resolved to go back home and ask for a job from his father, they would have assumed they knew what was going to happen next. Any self-respecting father would give his son a hiding. He would punish him severely because everyone could see that’s what he deserved. However, this father was different. Even though he had been horribly abused, he threw his arms around his wayward son and welcomed him home. He then gave him the best robe, put a ring on his finger and threw a big party.

This is precisely the good news that Jesus came to bring. We have all strayed from God’s ways and treated him appallingly. We don’t deserve his love. Punishment would be entirely appropriate, but incredibly, God throws his arms around us and welcomes us home.

What does this parable say to you personally?

Dear Father, thank you that even though I have done so many things that are wrong, you are willing to forgive me and give me a new life. Amen