I had a deep sense today that the Father wanted to touch each of us with his affectionate love, showing us that he cares and feels the pain of our struggles. Paul describes him as the God of all comfort and compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). The meaning of compassion is – ‘to suffer with'. God ‘suffers with’ you and me.
In the Prodigal Son story, Jesus described the father as 'filled with suffering’ for his son’s pain and humiliation. Never mind that the son deserved it - The wonder of God’s grace is that he carries our shame as if it is his own.
Jesus wanted us to know that God is deeply affectionate towards us. Even when we mess up, he loves us and wants us to feel the tenderness of his touch. Sometimes other believers make us feel that God is so holy, we can’t imagine him being involved in our daily struggles. But Jesus depicts the father as being completely undignified in the way he loves his delinquent son.
His father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20–24
In the Jewish culture of that time, men did not run as it meant lifting up their robes and exposing their undergarments.The more important the man the more dignified he had to be. But Jesus depicted this father as agonising over his son. He didn’t care what people thought, he just wanted his son in his arms and to tell him he loved him. So he ignored cultural protocols and simply ran, embraced and kissed him.
How could Jesus paint such a picture of Father God? Jesus heard and saw his Father as he spent time alone with him and listened for his voice. He then lived out all he’d received. He touched lepers, embraced the dead and ate with sinners. He washed feet and cooked meals for those who had rejected him.
We too, like Jesus, can experience the Father’s love through the Holy Spirit’s revelation.
Spend time quietly reflecting on the above description of the Father running to his son, embracing and kissing him. Change the words ‘him’ and ‘son’ to ‘me’. Let the Holy Spirit reveal the affectionate love of your Father towards you as he runs to embrace and kiss you today.
