But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  (Luke 15:22-23)

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The parable of “The Prodigal Son” is in Luke 15.  The chapter begins with the Pharisees and teachers of the law getting irritated and bothered about the company Jesus has been keeping.  It is just not good to hang around people like that who don’t measure up.

Jesus’s response is to tell a story about going to find the one lost sheep, and finding the one lost coin.  I can hear the leaders saying, “OK. Yes, yes.  But that’s what we are trying to do – straighten out these lost sheep so they can come into the fold with us.”

Then Jesus tells another story about a father who was insulted and wronged, but went running to meet his son who probably still smelled of the pigs and the slop.  He threw his arms around him, and wanted to throw a party. 

That’s what Jesus wants to do for us.

How do we follow Jesus in learning to see people that way?