"...he was lost and is found." - Luke 15:32bThe story of the lost sons (or the prodigal son) is a familiar one to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the teachings of Jesus. Here is the subversive genius of the son of man's storytelling on full display, with its evocative imagery, masterful use of irony and insider's view into the heart of God.[1] But what has been bugging me for the past few months is this last verse from the story: "he was lost and is found."
Referring to the younger son, it begs the question: who "lost" him and who "found" him? We often use these terms in Christian circles in the reflexive voice: he lost his way or she found herself, referring to someone regaining direction or purpose in life. When looking at Jesus story then, we focus on the character of the two sons. The younger son loses his way, running from the father and in a moment of insight finds his way back to his father. The older son loses his way, physically close but emotionally far away and, in moment of angry disclosure, reveals his bitterness towards his father.
But, as accurate as these insights about the two sons may be, it is not how Jesus is using the terms "lost" and "found". In the parallel story of the lost sheep, the shepherd loses one sheep and then goes to find it. In the story of the lost coin, the woman loses one coin and then sweeps and searches to find it. So ,also, the father loses his sons and wishes to find them.
How did the father lose them? Not by negligence or ignorance, but by conscious and deliberate choice. They chose to hide. Physically or emotionally, they separated themselves.
How did the father find them? This is interesting. With the coin and the sheep, we see immediate, directed action to recover them. But with the sons, the father seems passive, permissive and even impotent. Why? Because his sons must want to be found.
Imagine if the father sent out his hired men to find the younger son in the foreign land and forced him to return. Imagine if the father forced his older son to attend the banquet thrown for the younger son. The father does not just want their presence, he wants their hearts. So the most active, effective thing the father could do to find them is to wait and welcome.
Both sons wanted the bounty of the father, but without the father (cf. Luke 15:13, 15:29b). They are lost. The father waits for both sons and welcomes both sons to the feast. The story ends with the father waiting to see if the older son is willing to be found.
It is a question the Father still asks: are you willing to be found or do you still want to hide?
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9
[1]A masterful treatment can be found in the slim volume Prodigal God by Tim Keller. See http://www.timothykeller.com/books/the-prodigal-god.
