There are three points I would like to add. The first relates to my reference above "this parable." Often the parable known as "the prodigal son" is presented as a story that stands alone. However, note that in verse 3 Jesus says, "Then Jesus told them this parable...". Was it just the one about the lost sheep? No, the whole chapter is the parable. There are three vignettes within one parable, each building on the other. In my Bible, each vignette is titled as a separate parable, but this was not Jesus' intention.
Secondly, having noted that each vignette contributes to the flow of this parable, we see there is a pattern in these three segments--something lost (sheep-coin-son), something found, then great rejoicing. Right? Yes, but, I left out a critical piece...in the first two scenes there is another key element...one which is missing in the third scene, an extensive search. Who was supposed to be looking for the lost son?
Note that how the older brother learns of the celebration party, the other servants tell him in verse 27, "your brother has come." When disrespecting his father by complaining about his treatment, the older brother says, "this son of yours," (verse 30) we see that the older brother is so incensed that he cannot bring himself to acknowledge he has a brother. But, his father says in verse 32, "this brother of yours was dead and is alive again...". Who was supposed to be looking for the lost son? His older brother! (In my years in Africa I learned how the eldest brother was the leader of the siblings, the one responsible for them before their father...an Eastern cultural characteristic which is still widely common.)
Thirdly, note how the parable ends without resolution. One lost son has been found, the other is still outside the celebration. This is a clear reference to us older brothers who suppose ourselves to be so tight with our God...when, in reality, we are mostly far from celebrating that which our Father celebrates. Instead, like the older brother, we want to dictate what honors us and pick the friends with whom we want to celebrate...instead of looking for our lost brothers.
So, the older brother is outside the celebration...but, what will it take for him to join the celebration? Clearly, it would mean repentance and reconciliation with his father...but, that is not all. The older brother cannot join the celebration without acknowledging his younger brother, humbling himself and reconciling with him as well. Not only do we not recognize that we are largely estranged from the party...thinking, like the Pharisees, that we are insiders when we are actually outsiders, but, do we also recognize the degree to which we are estranged from those who are actually celebrating with our Father?
Not only are we not looking for our lost brothers...we don't care that they are lost, let alone desiring to be in intimate kingdom fellowship with them. As our Lord said, "The first will be last, and the last will be first."
