The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you, And am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of your hired servants”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said the son, “arose, and came to his father” where we read:
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him,
and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
The verse reads, “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and he arose” or “and the younger son raised up from where he was”, “and came to his father” which means “and appeared and found place toward his male progenitor and immediate ancestor”. “But when” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment” “he was yet a great way off” which means “the younger son was still a far distance away”, “his father saw him” or “the younger son's male progenitor and immediate ancestor observed, noticed, discovered and discerned the younger son”. Luke shared how Jesus said the younger son got up from where he was and went “to his father”, and even while he was a long way away, the “father” noticed and observed him coming home.
The verse goes on to say “... and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Luke continued with the words, “and had compassion” or “and was moved with a great seat of love and pity which affected his inner physical being”, “and ran” which means “and ran in haste”, “and fell on his neck” or “and pressed upon and embraced the younger son's physical neck”, “and kissed him” which means “and tenderly kissed the younger son over and over again”. Luke shared how Jesus said the “father” was moved with great “pity and love” for his son, “ran” to meet him, “embraced” his son by the “neck” and “kissed” him over and over again.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about this touching emotional response within the “father” even while his son was a great distance away. The “father” loved his son immensely, and when he saw him, the father could not refrain from manifesting the love he had inside for him. God loves people in this same way, and when they come to Him in humility and willingness to yield, He will “run” to them, embrace them and “kiss” them over and over again as they submit to His Son Jesus. God provided “salvation” to mankind through Jesus because He loves them so much, and when they lose their pride, come to their senses and believe and trust in Him, He is always watching for their return and is ready to “run”.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus said the son declared, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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