I was able to attend a talk on the prodigal son facilitated by Justin Moffatt, the minister at St. Phillips, York Street Sydney
He mentions the talk on his blog.
Unlike most discourses in church settings, I was very pleased that we sat around tables and were invited to contribute to the talk by asking questions or making comments. For a command and control type paid Christian, this would be avoided at all costs, but I would think that for one convinced of the Spirit's leading amongst us, there would be no other way of ministering to each other over a passage from the Bible. So, it was good to be a part of.
As we were considering the passage, it occurred to me that the journey of the prodigal son is at once the journey of Adam, and then of us all.
Firstly, the parallel between Genesis 3 and the Son’s decision to take from his father and turn from relationship with him is striking.
Then the return is paralleled in us as we repent and seek the Father by way of Christ, then enjoy the Father’s good favour to be demonstrated in the eternal life that Christ heralds in his resurrection.
I like the way the structure of the parable reaches back to the very basis for Christ’s salvation on the one hand, but also points forward to his resurrection on the other. In one brief parable a soteriological microcosm!
