Grace in the Story of the Prodigal Son: Our Identity as Sons and Daughters

I read a quote on Pinterest the other day that has been ringing in my heart and mind ever since. It said:

“Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gave him a feast.”

And as I was reading through the account of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-31, I couldn’t help but see the grace of God pour off the pages, as the father’s compassion and benevolence for his wayward son guided his actions and stirred reflection on the mercy of God for all who heard the parable.

This parable is perfectly nestled amongst a series of illustrations about rejoicing over a sinner’s repentant heart, and over things that are lost being found once more. And as if to turn the illustrations up a notch, the father in the story of the prodigal son proclaims that not only is his son found, but he uses the metaphor of one going from death to life. (See The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Lost Coin)

Returning to the Father after time gone astray is as monumental as a resurrection from the dead. It is the eternal death-to-life transition offered to all who embrace Jesus as their salvation, as he is the way back into the loving arms of the Heavenly Father.

You may have heard the familiar scripture quoted that “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) In this passage, Jesus describes false teachers who came before him—who didn’t lead God’s “sheep” or beloved people into full life, but rather deceived them into death.

We see a similar thread woven into the story of the Prodigal son: deceived by the allure of the world and things that are not of God, the son ventures outside of the Father’s care and ends up in deprivation. (Luke 15:14)

What the lost son thought would enhance his life, actually ended in his own destruction.

And that’s where grace begins to take center stage: this son, as if to spit on the father’s face, rebels and rejects all the father has for him. But this father—full of love and tenderness for his son—sees him returning home and has compassion on him.

What strikes me about this word “compassion” is that it denotes a sense of heartache for the one who has endured hardship. It’s as if the father knew that nobody could be happy apart from him, and when he saw how sin and deception ravaged the life of this young boy, the father met him with compassion, an enormous hug, and a celebration of his return.

And here’s what may have struck me the deepest: this son returned home with his tail between his legs. And honestly, it seems fitting that he did. He was not deserving of a place in the family—but that’s what makes this unmerited favor handed down from his father just so beautiful.

This son approached his father in shame, hoping to just be able to serve with his head hung low.

But just as the Heavenly Father lifts our heads, and calls us sons and daughter by the grace held out to us in the Lord Jesus Christ, this father treats him not as a shameful servant, but as a resurrected son.

As we walk with God, this story provides us with insight as to how we can view the dynamic between ourselves and our Heavenly Father…

Because you see, while this story comes fitly after parable after parable of the lost being found, it almost seems to serve as a segway into a new series of teachings Jesus offers his listeners: stories that fortify the reality that we are to live our lives on earth wisely, dutifully, and with servant-hearted natures—in view not only of our humble relationship to God (servant), but also in light of our beautiful and undeserved identity of sons and daughters. (Luke 17:10)

You see, while we willingly call ourselves servants, the Father graciously calls us sons and daughters. (Romans 6:15-18)

It’s because of his mercy that we have these new titles. And as believers, we get to live in the balance of humbly remembering that these identities are undeserved and yet fully embracing that—because of God’s grace—they are our new and irrevocable realities.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV

We get to serve the Father’s kingdom purposes, knowing that we will be made to inherit more than we could ever imagine or deserve. We get the sweet end of the deal. From head to toe, we are lavished in grace.

When we turn from our sin—the beliefs and lifestyles which lead to our own destruction—and turn to God, we are met with compassion for our hurt, celebration for our salvation, and the new title of “sons and daughters”. As sons and daughters of the Most High God, we are gifted with the opportunity to serve him—joyfully, dutifully—as we await our eternal inheritance in his heavenly kingdom.

This life with God begins and ends with his grace.

May you embrace the love of God who sees us turn to him, and literally runs toward us with the warmest of embraces, and gives us a new life, new purposes, and an eternal, imperishable inheritance.