Two weeks ago, I talked about loving mercy (Micah 6:8) and things God is teaching me. As I explored the Scriptures for examples, I realized there’s no better example than the father of the prodigal son in Jesus’ parable. If anyone was undeserving of mercy, it was him. He had shown great disrespect for his father by demanding his inheritance while his father was still alive and had gone off to squander the money in a far country.

The father’s response to his son’s behavior is interesting. We might expect that a father who loved mercy would go searching for the prodigal. In the past, that might have fit my definition of loving mercy. Instead, this mercy-loving father who knew his son well, waited for the inevitable to happen, waited for his son’s wealth to run out, waited for his son to “come to his senses,” waited for him to repent, to be ready to receive mercy.

But while he was waiting, the father never stopped watching for his son to come home. Scripture tells us that “While [the son] was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him…” (Luke 15:20). Can you picture that father looking off into the distance every day, yearning to catch the first glimpse of his wayward son?

Then, even more amazing, verse 20 tells us “[the father] ran to meet his son.”  Rev. Jack Wellman says, “The Jewish culture of that day had disdain for any father who ran. Since they wore long robes, the father would have had to tuck his robe into his belt, which would have exposed his legs…This was disgraceful in that culture. A father never ran, especially to a son because the son was to honor the father.” But this mercy-loving father was willing to risk disgrace in order to show mercy to his son.

Not only did the father run to his son–his son who probably smelled of pigs, an animal detestable to the Jews–but he also threw his arms around him and kissed him. At every point, the father in Jesus’ parable put showing mercy to his son above the mores of Jewish culture and tradition. Best of all, this mercy-loving father represents our mercy-loving Heavenly Father. Benny Hester’s song, “When God Ran,” written from the perspective of a prodigal, makes that connection. Here’s the first verse and chorus: (My favorite version is by Craig Philips of Philips, Craig, and Dean on YouTube.)

Almighty God, the Great I Am, Immovable Rock, Omnipotent, Powerful, Awesome Lord. Victorious Warrior, Commanding King of Kings, Mighty Conqueror and the only time,

The only time I ever saw him run,

Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms, Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again!” Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes, with forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son, do you know I still love you?” He caught me by surprise, when God ran.

Come, Holy Spirit, give us the heart of the Father. Remind us that Jesus, who was called a friend of sinners, came to show us the Father’s heart. Make us like Him. Amen.