There was another brother in the story of the son who left home and squandered his inheritance. This older brother was also ‘lost’ but did not know it. His rebellion surfaced when his father extended outlandish mercy on his rebellious little brother. Jesus was familiar with the disdain so many have toward God because He experienced similar reactions.
“He’s talking to a Samaritan woman.” “He’s healing on the Sabbath.” “He’s eating with sinners.” “He’s calling tax collectors to follow him.” “He’s praising the faith of Gentiles.” He’s telling parables about us!”
These observations led to brutal judgments: “He’s a false teacher.” “He’s out of his mind.” “He’s possessed by the devil.”
Though we marvel at how wrong such critics were, it is very easy to fall into similar traps. It is tempting to show disdain for the ‘self righteous’ brother in Jesus’ parable, but the father did not quit loving his older son. Instead, he left the party to reason with him and to ask him to join the celebration.
If we ever belittle mercy and compassion, we probably don’t grasp the love of the Father. The Father is always searching for the lost… whether they are far away or close at hand. He wants fellowship with every person. He wants none to perish, but all to have eternal life.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in a chair receiving the chemotherapy I’ve been going through the past several months. A thin curtain separated me from an older man being treated for the same disease. I was not eavesdropping, but the man was very loud and I could not help but overhear his complaint to the nurse. “I went to my doctor back home and do you know what he wanted to talk to me about? He wanted to tell me about Jesus! I told him I didn’t want to hear about Jesus; I just wanted him to get rid of my cancer!”
This man was not pleased with his doctor back home, but I was not pleased with him. I wanted to yell a sarcastic comment from behind my curtain, but then thought better of it. Oh, to love like God loves…
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” Romans 2:1-4