Frantic footsteps of a Forgiving Father

 Why did he run? 

Luke 15:20 KJV - 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.

This has always been a very familiar story to me and one, although interesting, I didn’t give much thought to in regard to the Father’s actions. Yes, he was forgiving. Yes, he showed great compassion, but I didn’t realise the significance of what he did until only recently.

For those not so familiar, let me set the scene briefly.

In this well-known parable as we find it in Luke’s gospel, we are told the story of 3 lost things. A lost sheep. A lost coin and a lost son.

We read of a young man who asked his Father for his inheritance, before his Father’s death, so that he could go out into the world and live what he thought would be his best life. He then squandered all his money and lived recklessly and thoughtlessly, indulging in every pleasure under the sun.

But there came a day when all the money was spent, all the parties were over, all the friends were gone and he was brought to his lowest point, finding himself in the humiliating position of working as a hired hand feeding pigs. When he hit rock bottom, he made the decision to return to his Father’s house and ask forgiveness, hoping that he would be welcomed, if not as a son, at least as a servant.

And this is where the story gets very interesting.

I want to hone in on two little words in this passage. AND RAN.

Maybe these don’t seem very profound to you, but after thinking on this and doing some research, I have come to realize that these two little words hold great significance.

Let’s take a step back in time for a bit and put ourselves in the ancient Jewish culture.

Firstly, in case you think that this running was a casual jog, let me elaborate on this word ran.

This running does not mean a medium paced run. The Greek word used here for “ran” is the technical term used for the foot races in the stadium. It means race.

This same word is used many times in the New Testament. We see this same running/racing speed used when the women came to the tomb after Christ’s resurrection and found it empty. They ran to tell the disciples. And then again as Peter and John raced to the sepulchre. (John 20)

We also see it in 1 Corinthians 9:24 in the context of running a race in order to win a prize.

So, this is no casual jog around the park. This is a running, with haste, requiring the exertion of all one’s efforts in order to arrive at the desired place.

So, why is this so significant?

Step back in Middle Eastern culture and think about the sight of an older man, of high standing, a respected elder, the head of a wealthy household, running.

This action was very much against what a man in his position would do. In this culture, a man of his age would always walk slowly and in a dignified manner. They would NEVER, EVER run.

To run, a man of this day would have to take the long robe that he was wearing and tie it up above his knees. His legs would be exposed, bringing shame upon him, a humiliating posture for him to take.

I see in my mind’s eye, the Father, scanning the horizon, possibly at various times of the day, hoping and longing to see a silhouetted figure that resembled his son.

And then that day came, far off in the distance the figure of a man was sighted. Did the Father recognize him instantly? Did he recognize his familiar way of walking? Whatever the case, we are told, “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran..”

With great joy, he saw his long, lost son and without thought of the shame it might bring upon him, he hitched up his robes, in a most unbecoming manner, sprinting through the dusty streets of the town, with members of the community watching this most embarrassing sight, he ran, undeterred, with haste and with all the urgency of a man passionate in his intent.

He ran. He raced.

But why did he run? Why not wait until his son was closer? Why race in such an undignified manner to meet him? Why not take the time to compose himself, prepare a speech, a lecture, or a welcoming party? Why not make his son walk the walk of shame through the streets and all the way to his family home?

To gain a better insight into why he ran, we have to look into a particular ceremony that was the custom in the Jewish culture of this period in History. This custom was known as the Kezazah ceremony.

The Kezazah was a ceremony that a Jewish village or community would perform in exactly this situation.

When someone had left home, rejecting the community’s principles and rules of inheritance, in wilful rebellion, bringing shame upon their family, upon their return, they would be subjected to the ritual of Kezazah.

This particular ceremony literally meant a “cutting off”. The villagers would meet the shamed, returning member, on the outskirts of the village, before they could make it back home, and they would take a large clay pot and break it in pieces at the feet of the individual, symbolizing that they were no longer part of their community. They were breaking all ties and basically letting them know they were no longer welcome because of the shame they had brought upon them all.

It was a very visual and public ritual.  By doing this, they were showing that they were breaking relations with him, shaming him, and making it very clear that he had forfeited his right to any path back home, and should expect no one to take him in.

So, why did the Father risk his good reputation by running to his son? To protect him from the Kezazah Ceremony!

He ran to get to his son before the rest of the community could get to him. He longed to spare him from Kezazah. He ran, yes, because he was filled with compassion and love for his son, but he ran to reach his son before the villagers could get to him, to literally save his life.

Instead of subjecting him to the utter shame of Kezazah, he wanted everyone to know that he had forgiven him and was welcoming him back home.

He ran to him and publicly embraced him and kissed him. In unimaginable grace he embraced and kissed his son, who still smelt like the pig pen he had arisen from, still wearing his rags of shame. This Father was not concerned at all about the shame of his running or the shame of his son’s prior actions.

And not only did he welcome him with a loving embrace, but he also prepared a feast for him!

Luke 15:22-24 KJV - But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

As if thwarting the Kezazah ceremony wasn’t enough, after showing the village that his son was forgiven, the Father then moved to restore him publicly through killing the fatted calf and probably inviting the entire village to attend a great feast in his son’s honour.  

I can see the villagers, clay pots unbroken held in their hands, possibly now behind their backs, shamefaced and left amazed and astounded at the actions of the Father. They watched as the Father and son walked by, arms around each other, tears flowing down their cheeks.

Did they feel guilty at all? Maybe some did, and maybe some were unrepentant, but we are told that whoever it was that came to the party that night began to be ‘merry’. So, there was rejoicing in the house that night!

What was dead, was now alive! What was lost, was now found!

What a beautiful end to a sad story. From the loss of a son, the mourning and hopeful longing for return of a wayward son to the joyful reunion of a son and his forgiving, compassionate Father.

And we, like the son are so undeserving of God’s amazing grace, and yet he extends it so willingly. He draws us close, despite the smell of the world upon our skin, despite the scars we bear. He forgives us and brings us into his house. We leave our shame at the door, we lay our heavy burdens down, and we sit at the feast God has prepared for us.

1 John 1:9 KJV - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.