When we hear the word “Prodigal” we tend to associate it negatively - in fact the word prodigal comes from the root that means “to waste” and we associate it with - reckless wastefulness.
The story of the Prodigal Son is fairly well known and we recognize the younger son as “the prodigal” because after demanding his inheritance and alienating himself from his father - he left home and then wasted all of that inheritance. Synonyms for prodigal are also careless, extravagant and lavish - all words we often associate with the younger son’s lifestyle.
However, the story that Jesus told is about much more than the younger son. It’s actually about two sons who had each taken different paths and alienated themselves from the father and his heart - one by being very very bad, and the other - by being very very good.
Jesus told this story as good news to people who saw themselves as the younger brothers - the “sinners” whose behaviour left them wandering, lost and feeling like “outsiders” to God and society.
But Jesus story is also good news to the older brothers - the religious “insiders” who figured that good behaviour alone guaranteed them blessing from God.
Jesus story shows us The Father who loved both extravagantly, recklessly and lavishly so that we can know and experience the “Prodigal-ness” of God’s character and His love.
This new series asks us all - Where do you see yourself in the story?