We are all created in the image and likeness of God. Sin has broken that divine image in us. If one aspect of God is God being a father, and if the goal of our faith is the restoration of God's image and likeness in us, therefore the tasks of fatherhood apply to all of believers in Christ both male and female. Am I correct?
One of the most vivid pictures of the fatherhood of God is presented in the Gospel of Luke (15.11-32). Many people know and enjoy the parable of the Prodigal Son, though in my view (and certainly in the older son's view), the father of the prodigal son is somehow also 'prodigal.'
What did the younger son do? He asked for shared property in advance before the death of his father (v.12). He spent all the money in a reckless living among others with prostitutes (vv.13, 30). By asking his shared property before the death of the father, this younger son certainly had hurt his father's heart. By spending his money with prostitutes, this younger son had certainly brought shame to the family, and especially to his own father whose last name attached to him. By living a reckless lifestyle, this younger son paid no respect to the father who had taught him to live according to God's law (according to Jewish tradition).
Is it worth to keep this younger son as son? Is it beneficial at all to welcome him back home? What other horror reputations will be labelled to this family by accepting him back? If I or you were the father of this son, what would we do?
This son returned home hungry, not properly clothed and shoeless, weak, dirty, smelly, and discouraged. This prodigal son felt that his identity as his father's son had lost by what he had done to himself, to his family and especially to his father. The narrative assumes that no good father will be willing to welcome this horrible son back in the family.
Surprisingly, when the father saw his son, he felt compassion, and ran
and embraced his son and kissed him affectionately, though his body was smelly and dirty - and though this son had hurt him so much (v.20). Not only that, the father ordered the servant to bring the best robe, and put it on the son, and put a ring on his son's hand, and shoes on his son's feet. The father also celebrated the return of his son with a big party (vv.22-23).
The older son and some of us thought that his father is 'prodigal.' Why did this father spend a lot of money to welcome this prodigal son who had brought shame to the family and hurt his own heart? Only prodigal father would do that. Crowd including us would agree that this younger son was not deserved for that generous loving welcome from his father. But....... do you know what? This younger son however is a picture of no one but you and me. We all were dirty, smelly and prodigal boys and girls. We were actually not deserved to receive a warm, loving and generous welcome from God. But God's love alone overcome the deadly barrier. We are loved though we are not deserved to be loved.
What did this father do to his once lost son? This father loved his son with an unchangeable, undeniable and eternal love. This is agape: a love that is offered to the undeserved without any requirements in advance and without any expected return. This son once left his father, but his father's love towards him was consistent and still.
This father showed compassion and care to his once lost son. This father's love was not merely a lip service nor an abstract commitment. He loved his son, he showed compassion to him and he cared for him by actively welcoming, embracing and kissing him, saying, 'You are my son still.' While his son rightly felt that he is no longer worthy to be called as the son of this father, the compassionate heart of his father embraced and cared for him warmly. This parable teaches that genuine compassion always brings all puzzles together in peace and reconciliation.
The son was forgiven and restored by his father. The giving of clothes, shoes and food signifies physical restoration. The giving of a ring on his hand signifies social restoration. The one who once lost is now found - The one who once left me, now is mine again, said the father. The ring claimed publicly that this younger son was forgiven and hold the status of an official son to this father.
As father, God does loving, caring for, forgiving and restoring his beloved children. We are all male and female believers called to these tasks of fatherhood exemplified by the father in this parable. The prodigal son is a picture of us and our failures. The father is a picture of God the father who loves, cares for, forgives and restores our lives. It is in that image and likeness have we been created - and it is in that image and likeness, has the goal of our faith been set for. The parable of the Prodigal Son is indeed a true story of us.
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