This picture is Rembrandt's “The Return of the Prodigal Son” 1668Read Luke 15:11-31
This Rembrandt painting depicts the story of The Prodigal Son. There are three main characters in the foreground of this painting – the younger son, the older son, and the father.
The Younger Son
Notice the posture of humbleness. After all, what pride does he have left? The tattered clothes, the worn out sandals, and the callused feet evidences a hard life. The shaved head marks the life of a slave. Only thing he has left of his past life is the short dagger he wears around his waist.
Why did he keep it? Was it to remind him who he was even when he lost everything? He comes to the father humble. He knows what he has done. He wished his father dead. He left. He squandered his inheritance. He became a slave. He remembered. He returned to his father. Humbled. Needing forgiveness.
The Older Son
Notice the posture of pride. After all, he thought deserved his father’s inheritance. He worked hard. He obeyed his father. He wears the red cloak of wealth, holds the staff of a lord, and his beard is long and well trimmed. From the outside, he looks very much like the father. Unlike his father, he stands away from the younger brother and holds his hands close to himself. Proud. Unable to forgive.
The Father
Notice the posture of acceptance. After all, he regained a once lost son. His hands embrace the son – the son who was once contemptuous, but now in need of forgiveness. Rembrandt paints a masculine left hand of the father. This hand embraces him with authority and protection. The feminine right hand embraces with gentleness and compassion. God the Father’s love encompasses both – the masculine and the feminine characteristics.
One wonders if the ultimate challenge is to see ourselves as either the younger or the older son, but over time to become like the father.
Read the story again - Luke 15:11-31
Ask the Lord in what ways you are the younger son or the older son and spend time asking for forgiveness. Remember that when there is true repentance, God forgives and embraces His child.
1 comment:
Thanks Susan K. - great picture and thoughts.
I so want to be the Father, but find myself being both sons. It's almost like they are two sides of the same coin.
Too much of the time I find myself as the judgmental older son, pridefully looking down on others with a smirk.
But when I realize the extent my own depravity and darkness - which is much - it turns my stomach and my soul and forces me to the feet of the Father. Then I only see Him. I only need Him. I'm no longer looking at others.
O' Lord please keep me at your feet, under your arms.
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