One Year Bible: April 12

But while he was still a long way off,
his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran …

Luke 15:20

To read today’s portion of scripture, you can purchase The One Year Bible (paid link) or find the following in your Bible:

Joshua 5:1-7:15
Luke 15:1-32
Psalm 81:1-16
Proverbs 13:1

The first time we visited Israel, it was October and the temperature (on top of Masada) was 108 degrees. I happen to be a person who thinks there’s no good reason for the temperature to ever rise about 75, so this was difficult.

At the holy sites, they have strict rules about attire: no bare shoulders and no bare legs. We women had all brought light shawls to wear at the Western Wall. But while sitting on a bench waiting to see if we could visit the Temple Mount, I was so miserably hot that I let my shawl slip just an inch down my shoulders to escape its warmth.

Not five seconds later, one of the young female soldiers came up to me and said, “Ma’am … your shawl.”

They’re very serious about this.

It wasn’t much different backs in the time of Jesus. Women covered up. Men wore long robes. Shoulders and legs were not exhibited.

So when we come to this passage and we see the father running to his lost son, it’s a powerful moment. Because in order to run, he had to hike up his robe and expose his naked legs to all those neighbors who had watched him sell off his livestock to give his son the inheritance he demanded. In that culture, by saying those words, it was the same thing as if he’d said to his father, “I wish you were already dead.” It was a scandalous request. But the father complied. And everyone around him knew how he’d been wronged by this son he had only loved.

We read that it was when the boy was still afar off that the father began running. That means he’d been scanning the horizon day by day, hoping for a glimpse of the son he missed so much. And when his hopes were realized, and he saw his boy turned for home, he pulled up his robe, put his passion on display, and ran.

The parallel to us is vivid. Jesus went to the cross all but naked, and allowed the soldiers to pierce his hands and feet and lift Him up, so He could put His passion on display; so He could say without words that we were forgiven our great offense against Him.

No one ever captured the poignancy of this passage better than Keith Green, when he put it to music. I hope you like this (lyrics below):

I was done hoeing, out in the fields for the day
I was thinking of going, I had to leave right away
My life is just fading, and oh I felt so alone
The nearest young maiden was a full day’s ride from home

My father was reading the holy books in his room
My heart was just bleeding, I knew I had to go soon
He smiled and pointed at an old wooden chair
I wanted to hold him, but then I just wouldn’t date

I said, “Father, there’s so much to know
There’s a world of things to see
And I’m ready to go and make a life for myself
If you give me what is mine
I will go, if I can have your blessing
But if you won’t bless my journey, I’m gonna leave anyway.”

“Son, I’ve always tried my best for you
And if you must be leaving home, then go with the blessing of God

Not too many days later, I was well on my way
I met a traveling stranger who seemed to have much to say
He told me tales of the city, and all the women he’d had
I asked him, “Wasn’t that sinful?”
He said, “No, it isn’t that bad.”

And then a few days later, on an old city road
We were drowning in laughter, and we had women to hold
And this went on quite a long time; my father gave me a lot
But when my pockets were empty, my friends all left me to rot

Then a famine hit and drained the land
Everywhere I looked I saw starvation, and a job was nowhere to find
I wandered through the city streets, competing for the food of common beggars
Until then I’d never known hunger, but now I wasn’t too proud

I finally found some employment feeding pigs on a farm
I wasn’t treated too kindly; I had to sleep in the barn
I had to eat with the swine
The bread I ate was like stone
It didn’t take too much time until I was dreaming of home
Oh, the servants there are better fed
If I could only have what my father gives them
I would truly need nothing more

Oh, I will go and say to him
“I’m no longer worthy to be in your family
Will you take me as your servant and let me live with them?”

It didn’t take too long to pack my things
I left with only what I wore
And I prayed that I still had a home
I was near home, in sight of the house
My father just stared, dropped open his mouth
He ran up the road and fell to my feet, and cried, and cried

“Father I’ve sinned, heaven’s ashamed
I’m no longer worthy to wear your name
I’ve learned that my home is right where you are
Oh father, take me in

“Bring the best robe, put it on my son
Shoes for his feet, hurry put them on
This is my son who I thought had died
Prepare a feast for my son’s alive
I’ve prayed and prayed, never heard a sound
My son was lost, oh thank You, God, he’s found
My son was dead and he’s now alive
Prepare a feast for my son’s alive
My son was dead
My son was lost
My son’s returned in the hands of God.

Songwriter: Keith Green