The Parable of the Lost Sons

When Mark Twain was asked who he considered the greatest storyteller to be and what the greatest story was, he said Jesus and the Prodigal Son, respectively. The Parable of the Prodigal Son has captured the attention and imagination of artists, philosophers, scholars, and ordinary people for two thousand years. However, due to its familiarity, it is possible for the story to touch us deeply and still miss the point entirely. In reality, the story isn’t just about the Prodigal Son, but also a Gracious Father and Enslaved Older Brother.

This parable radically redefines how we understand religion and human nature. Most importantly, what it means to truly relate to God. There are two ways to be lost and distance ourselves from God - the way of rebellion and the way of religion. One path purses self-discovery; the other moral conformity. A prodigal lifestyle has the advantage of being destructive and unsustainable, leaving a person with no other option but to cry out to God. Older brothers may be upright and obedient, but in reality, they are every bit as estranged from the Father as the younger son. This account shows us that apart from grace, everyone is lost, but everyone can be found through returning to the Father in Christ.