The Father's Looking (10.23.2005)

Last week, we looked at the parable of the Good Samaritan and what it teaches about the act of looking. This week, we look at the parable of the Lost Son and the significance of the father's looking.

WHAT LOOKING TELLS US
Studies show that body language conveys up to 90% of our message when communicating with others. The words we say are one thing, but our body language can serve to emphasize our message -- or undermine it. What meaning might looking and not looking possibly convey to others?

• Looking -- respect, interest, acknowledgement, threat, anger, etc.
• Not looking -- disrespect, fear, avoidance, embarassment, dislike, etc.
  

THE FATHER'S LOOKING
Read the parable of the Lost Son -- Luke 15:11-24. This is one of three parables that Jesus tells after the Pharisees expressed their disapproval of His hanging out with tax collectors and sinners. The other parables were about the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin.

In the stories of the Widow of Nain ("his heart went out to her"), the Good Samaritan ("he took pity on him"), and the Lost Son ("filled with compassion"), the phrases that describe compassion are an identical Greek word: splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee). Therefore, everything we have talked about regarding Jesus' compassion for the widow and the Samaritan's compassion for the injured man also applies here to the father's compassion for his returning son.

How was the father looking for his son? Probably very intently. There was no indication that his son was on his way home, yet the father saw him while he was still a long way off. In the flat terrain of the region, the father would have to be looking with a great degree of frequency, too, in order to see him while still at a distance. It's unlikely that the father just happened to see him in his peripheral vision.

THE OTHERS' REACTIONS
It is interesting to consider what was going through the hearts and minds of the other characters in the parable. How might different people have felt or reacted to the Lost Son ...

When he ran away?

• Father -- anger, hearthache, bitterness, frustration, dishonored, shame
• Brother -- resentment, anger, loneliness, opportunistic
• Villagers -- shock, pity, compassion, anger, gossip, mocking the father

When he returned?

• Father -- joy, relief, compassion
• Brother -- anger, bitterness, resentful
• Villagers -- amazement, surprise, joy, gossip, intrigued

THE FATHER'S SHAME
Patriarchs in the Ancient Near East do not run, even to this day. It is seen as being undignified and inappropriate for someone of that position and stature. The expected reaction in that culture would have been for the father to wait until the son came to him. Therefore, we see another example of an exchange associated with love -- the son receiving honor, and the father receiving shame.


JESUS LOOKS LIKE HIS FATHER
Take a look at this passage from the Old Testament: "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt ... and I am concerned about their suffering." (Exodus 3:7)

• Luke was a student of the Old Testament, aware that Jesus’ “looking-followed-by-compassion” pattern reflected the pattern that characterized God’s behavior as He related to His people.
• By drawing attention to the same patterns in Jesus’ behavior and teaching (which are always consistent with each other), he emphasizes what the Gospels frequently suggest: when we watch Jesus, we’re watching how God loves us.

TABLE TALK: God’s patterns are reflected in Jesus’ life. As a follower of Jesus, a Christian’s life is to reflect His patterns. Looking at the stories of the Widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-24), what patterns do you see reflected in your own life? If you know the people at your table, how do you see these patterns reflected in their lives?

One example shared in class was from a table with three teachers. Teachers often have to "love the unlovely." Some students may not be as endearing, as bright, as well-behaved -- or as clean! -- as other students. However, teachers must look at (turn their attention toward) these students and not cast them aside. As they do, the come to understand the child better and put themselves in a position where the compassion can follow.

PRAYING GOD'S WORD
Use the following passages to pray God’s Word back to Him, either on your own or with others:

• Lord, you do not look at the things we look at in others. We look at the outward appearance, but you look at the heart. Lord, teach us to look at the things you do! (1 Samuel 16:7)
• God, when you look down from heaven on us to see if there is anyone who understands, anyone who seeks God, may you find us pleasing in your sight. (Psalm 53:2)

BEING THE REAL DEAL
Here are some ways to apply this message from God’s Word:

• Ask God to turn your eyes toward someone who might need you to forgive them and take them back with open arms – just as He has with you. Notice how God stirs in your heart as a result.
• Still have that bottled water from last week? If you see a homeless person at an intersection, be intentional about looking at them and offering something to eat or drink.