It All Started with a Hug and a Kiss!
The story of the Prodigal Son in Luke Chapter 15 is so fascinating on so many levels because of the audience Jesus told it to. He was sitting with sinners and tax collectors when the Pharisees showed up to challenge Him. He responded by telling three parables, all to help them see and understand God’s heart for them. Something His whole audience did not know of.
In the story of the Prodigal Son, we see probably the most visual and challenging parable his audience would struggle with, especially the Pharisees who thought it ungodly to associate with people of low morals and lawbreakers.
I want to look at just one powerful aspect of this fantastic story that often gets overlooked or neglected, yet, reveals a life-transforming truth that all of us can learn and benefit from.
As the Prodigal comes home, his father runs to him and hugs and kisses him. This all happened before he was restored and reconciled. This act of compassion from his father helped to start the process of reconciliation and restoration. I don’t want to elaborate much on this aspect because I have written a lot on it, but I do like to highlight something that is misunderstood in the church world today.
The Prodigal's father loved his wayward and sinful son deeply and running to him to embrace and kiss him before he (the Prodigal) utters a single word, reveals his heart toward him. We all know the family dynamics that transpired on that road between them. The result is the Prodigal was restored and reconciled to His father. It all started with a hug and a kiss. Experiencing God’s love opens the door to reconciliation and divine provision. It doesn’t matter what failures you have in life or how great of a sin you committed. Your heavenly Father will always run to you to embrace and kiss you while bringing you home to Him.
“That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]” (2 Corinthians 5:19 AMP),
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
