Mark Sorensen Is there anything quite like a really good story? You know the elements of a good story, right? We meet a character, the scene is set, conflict arises, our hero struggles through the conflict and then gets the girl in the end. Fade to black, credits roll, we throw the popcorn bucket away and leave the theatre with the satisfaction that it all worked out in the end. Really. Who doesn’t like a good story?
But what happens when there’ s no resolution. What happens when the story is told, the conflict arises and the scene fades to black and we don’t know the ending? For me, it’s frustrating. I want to know the rest of the story. It forces me to sit in the angst of not knowing the resolution. Let’s be honest. Who really likes sitting in the midst of “not knowing” and having to wrestle with the “ending” of the story if it’s not given?
Well, there’s Jesus, for starters.
Take a look at the familiar parable of the Prodigal Son (click the link to read the story). Here is a story told by Jesus that is in two acts. Act one we might be the most familiar with. Let me give you the break down.
A father of wealth has two sons. One son, the younger, approaches the father and asks for his inheritance and leaves the home only to squander his wealth in wild living. Then, famine hits the land. Ah, yes, conflict arises. He becomes poor and destitute and begins to wonder why he ever left in the first place. So, he plans to go home. However, he knows he can’t go back to the father as a son. He was too disrespectful to his father to find a place back in the family. So, he plans to ask to be hired as a worker and simply be employed. Here’s the beautiful part. Before he ever hits the front door of his home, the father tackles him. The father literally runs to meet his son, kissing him and embracing him. The father’s response? Read on:
Quick! Bring the best robe we have and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet. Go get the fattest calf and butcher it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate because my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and has been found.” So they had this huge party.
There, my friends, are all the elements of a good story. There’s a beginning, a middle, and a beautiful end. However, to be true to Jesus’ parable, we mustn’t bail on the story at this point because Jesus is not finished. He then moves to Act two.
Enter into the scene the elder brother.
He hears the music. He sees people running in and out of the banquet room and wonders, “Did I miss something?” So he asks a hired hand what is going on. That’s when he learns that his brother had come home. Conflict, number two. So, what does he do? He broods. He whines. He stands outside the party with arms crossed and refuses to move.
Enter into the closing scene the father. Just as he did with the younger son, he goes out to meet the elder son to inquire why he is choosing to stand outside the party. Look at the exchange between the two:
Listen, all these years I’ve worked hard for you. I’ve never disobeyed one of your orders. But how many times have you even given me a little goat to roast for a party with my friends? Not once! This is not fair! So this son of yours comes, this wasteful delinquent who has spent your hard-earned wealth on loose women, and what do you do? You butcher the fattest calf from our herd!”
The father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and all I have is yours. Isn’t it right to join in the celebration and be happy? This is your brother we’re talking about. He was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found again!”
And there it is. The scene fades to black, the credits roll on this parable by Jesus and we are left with the elder brother standing outside the party as the father pleads for him to come in and join the celebration.
Here’s what I love about Jesus. The more I follow His story in the gospels, the more I love that he was willing to let people wrestle with a greater truth in the midst of story.
To really understand this parable, you find its meaning at the beginning of Luke 15 in two verses that set it all up. Read it from the Message translation:
By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” Their grumbling triggered this story.
The story of the younger brother is that of the tax collectors and sinners. Jesus was sharing the love that the Father has for all who are willing to repent and come home. But, who had a problem with this message? The Pharisees and the religious scholars. They were so caught up in their pride and religion that they missed the celebration over the lost being found. So, in context to this parable, Jesus is communicating to the religious leaders of his day, “You’re missing the party! You are so caught up in assumption and pride, that you’re missing the celebration found in the lost coming home!”
Let me ask. Where do you see yourself in this story? Maybe you can relate to the choices made by the younger son and finding yourself so lost that you don’t know how you ever reached such a place. Come home. There’s grace and forgiveness for you. You’ve hungered for the pods the pigs have eaten but the Father is ready to serve up filet. Maybe you are on the other side. You’ve forgotten that we’re called to reach the broken, the lost, the untouchable. And not just reach them, but celebrate that they too are God’s children. There’s good news for you as well. The party is happening. Right now. The table is set, the food prepared and the entertainment is provided. Our response? We just have to walk in to the banqueting hall.
Looking for resolution to this story? Here it is. Ready? It’s me. It’s you. How will you respond? Write and live into your ending. Let’s get to the party, friends.
