But the father said to his servants,Bring forth the best robe,and put it on him;and put a ring on his hand,and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf,and kill it;and let us eat,and be merry: For this my son was dead,and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 15:22-24
Whenever I read the story of the Prodigal son, I always see only three characters. However,as one who has experienced the wonderful forgiveness and restorative love, of the Father,I have became aware that there was actually an entire set of characters, who are more than mere bit players in the story.They are mentioned very clearly, and were given a very important role, in the restoring of the Prodigal son. Who were they? They were the servants of the Father.
The Bible says, that after the son had come back, the Father hugged him and kissed him, and then he told the servants to get to work. What these servants did, is what made the story happen.Their role was vital to this story, yet I had never noticed them before. Allow me to tell you about these servants.
The real work of restoring the son, was done almost entirely by these servants.They were there with the Father, when the son returned, so obviously they were waiting to begin their work, as soon as the Father told them to do so. They were not the stars of the story, and not one of them, was pointed out specifically, yet they are there throughout the prodigals return, doing their work. We do not know how many there were, but it was apparent that there must have been, quite a few.
Restoration, is not all about an organized plan of attack. It is about a spontaneous show of, love, and care.These servants accompanied the Father, so when the Father accepted back the son, they stood ready to namelessly do their part, to help the Father, help the Son.The Bible says, that we are to restore, in the spirit of meekness. What is the spirit of meekness? It is the spirit of a servant. Jesus took upon Himself, the form of a servant.
The Bible also says, that the spiritual are to restore the fallen. Restorers are servants, in the likeness of their Saviour. Perhaps, some of them were sweet widows, who with a loving smile, carried out the orders of the Father. Maybe others were ushers, who stood at the door, and greeted people, as they entered. All we know is, that the ones who did the work of restoring the son, for the Father, were these servants, so we know that they had to be Spiritual. Just what did these servants do, that was so important? Well, they did what the Father commanded them to do, to help facilitate the restoration of His beloved Son. Let’s take a look, at exactly what they did.
1. They brought the robe and put it on the son.
Did you see that? The Father was ministering to the son but, someone had to fetch that robe, and put it on him. Someone had to wrap it around him, and remind him that he was, once again, cloaked in the robe of righteousness. When he was in the far country, he had already rehearsed his speech, and the first words were to be, Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before thee… Wait, the Father would hear none of that. He sent for the robe, that would cover his putridness, with the Father’s, privilege. Which robe did the servants fetch and place upon the son? It was not just any old robe. It was the, best robe. What robe would be the best? HIS OWN robe, of course.The servants fetched the Father’s robes, and carefully, tenderly, lovingly wrapped it around, the son.
That is the first thing servants are to do, in restoring the fallen. How could I forget those servants who helped to put that robe, back on me. They were those who helped me see myself, not as the man covered in the slop and filth of my sin, but those who helped me see that I was covered in the Father’s robe.Thank God, for the servants whose silent role as spiritual restorers, is in helping returning prodigals know they are covered, ,once again,in that robe. How exactly do they accomplish that? They remind the one, who is being restored, of two things that the robe does.
First, they remind him of the fact, that they do not see his filth, but only the Father’s, purity. They do not make him feel, like he has to slither in the back of the service, and stay away from the others, like some kind of leper. They save him a seat, right in the midst of the crowd.They gladly introduce, or reintroduce him to others, around them. I remember slithering into church, when I first returned and being greeted by a servant who said, “Come sit with us.” From that point on, they saved me a seat, and made me feel, welcomed and wanted.
The second thing they remind us of, is the fact that the robe would protect us, from those who would seek, to do us harm. Let me tell you how that Prodigal son felt when he first returned. He felt paranoid. He felt like a sitting duck. He had been the target, of abuse and degradation, in the far country, but not here. He was safe, as along as he walked in the righteousness of that robe, and not his own.The folks that made me feel, like they saw me as a son, and not a sinner, were those who gave me the courage to go forward, when I was discouraged. They did not bring up, where I had been. They merely made me feel, that I was safe there, and that I belonged.
The church needs to be a place of servants, who stand ready, to cover prodigals with that best robe, and to make certain, that they feel, welcome and safe, in their midst. If the prodigal had not felt that way, perhaps he would have fled again. Many prodigals do flee, because they enter a church of elder brothers, rather than servants.
2. They brought him the ring, and put it on his finger.
The ring was a symbol of so much, but perhaps most of all, it was a symbol of worthiness. When he wore the ring, it made him worthy, of all his father possessed. It gave him worth. Remember, what the second element of his speech to the Father was going to be? And am no more worthy to be called thy son… He felt so unworthy, because of all that he had done.
When the servants brought that ring, with the seal of his Father, and put it on his finger, it gave him back his worth. There had been a time, when he could approach any merchant and with the imprint of that ring, receive whatever goods he needed. They made him feel, like he still was a son, and that he still could once again, approach his father boldly.
The servants in my life were those who made me feel worthy, not worthless. When I returned to the Father, I already felt worthless. Why do Christians stomp on returning prodigals? Well,servants don’t. Only spoiled elder brothers, do. Perhaps, it is because they have forgotten their own worth, through the seal of the Father, in the person of the Holy Spirit.
3. They brought the shoes, and put them on his feet.
The servants went and fetched the shoes, that represented the fact, that he was no longer a slave in the world. Slaves did not wear shoes. The son had planned to stay a servant, and the third part of his speech was to be, make me as one of thy hired servants. But he was not a slave;he was a son. The servants gave him back, the feeling of being a son.
Servants of restoration, reach out to the prodigals as family. When we return, we feel lower than low, but those servants treat us, as if we had never left.They do not want us to suffer, the hardships of slaves, but the comforts of sons.They do their best to make our walk, easy, and comfortable.They do not throw obstacles in front of us, hoping to inflict pain. The walk of home, should not be more painful, than the walk in the far country.
So many people tried to ease the path for me, upon my return. They did not delight in my pain, but rather in my comfort. They gently treated me as one who belonged, not as a slave, who did not deserve to be there.There were those who tried to make my path more difficult, but the servants had already put shoes on my feet, so that I did not have to endure, those hardships.
4. They brought the fatted calf, and prepared it for the son.
Once the son decided to leave the pig pen, he was exchanging the food the pigs ate, for the food kings and royalty ate. The Bible says he arose. From whence did he arise? He arose from feeding the pigs. Therefore, the Father said, ‘let me feed you the fatted calf’. He went from pig grub to prime rib! Who prepared those things for him? It was the Father’s servants, who saw to it that the provisions, were made for the son.
Hear me, prodigals often come back, broke and hungry. Our job is not to remind them, of why they are in that condition. Our job as servants, is to make sure we feed them, and that may sometimes mean, that we literally have to feed them physically, as well as spiritually. The servants are the ones who say and mean it, “If you need anything, please let me know.” They are the ones who say, “Why don’t you have dinner with us today.” They slip a $20 in your hand, and say, “I thought you might be able to use this.” They help you find a place to live, and a way to exist, while you are recovering. They are servants, and they know that is what the Father wants them to do.
5. They rejoiced with the Father.
The final step of the prodigal’s return was, and came to his father. Imagine that long trip home. Yet, we see that the moment the Father saw him his celebrating began. Wait, he did not celebrate alone. The Bible says, And they began to be merry. Who were they? They were the servants. In fact, they were celebrating so loudly that the elder brother heard it as he was coming in from the field. That is what ticked him off. Elder brothers, can’t stand the spiritual servants, anyway. In fact, they do not consider them to be their friends. The elder brother made it clear, that he had his own, set of friends. And he, answering, said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time, thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: Luke 15:29.
Have you ever considered the fact that when a person comes back, they have few friends left? Who celebrated with the Father? His servants did, and the elder brother acknowledged, that these were more than servants, to the Father; they were friends. Look at what Jesus said, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things, that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. John 15:14, 15. Is that not amazing? These servants, loved what the father loved, and they did what, he commanded them. As a result, they had become friends, so any son of the Father, was a friend of theirs.
Do you know what our churches need? We need so many servants, celebrating over restoration, that they drown out the negative comments, of the elder brothers. Why is it the slime internet forums, make more noise over what the prodigal did, then we make, celebrating their return? That ought not to be, and would not be, if more servants were involved, in the restoration work, of the Father.
I cannot close this article, without pointing out something very interesting, that was left out of their duties, as servants. The son had just come from the pig pen. We can only imagine how filthy and smelly he was. Nothing smells worse than a pig pen. The filth is disgusting. Can you imagine what the son looked like, or the offensiveness of his odor? YET, the Father never said, take my son, wash him off, and clean him up. No doubt, the smell permeated the pores, of his skin. It probably would have taken days, maybe even weeks, to really get the filth, completely off of him, and out of him.
Only a spiritual servant, could overlook the offensiveness of the son. However, they were never commanded to clean him up, or wash him off. PLEASE, do not miss this. Far too many Christians, wait to celebrate, until the fallen one has proven their worth, by their own scrutinous inspection. We watch, wait and scrutinize that returning son, before we offer our hand, or help. After all, we think it is our job, to keep the church clean. Sorry friend, but that is not what servants do. None of us will ever be clean enough to sit at the Father’s table, nor worthy enough to wear His robe, His ring or His shoes. None of us will ever deserve anything more than the husks which the swine eat, much less the fatted calf of the Father. THANK GOD! It is not our worthiness, which drives the Father. It is HIS love.
There is one last sweet and amazing truth here. The servants had no apparent fear of being associated with the son, although he was freshly back from his life, in the far country. Why were they not afraid of the one coming back, for restoration? The Bible never says, we should consider the one, we are restoring, but that we should consider or scrutinize ourselves. They did their work for the son, as unto the Father.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Galatians 6:1
The secret of being servant restorer, is love. First, they love their master, and as an automatic response, they love the Father’s son. For a long time I struggled with how many who claimed to love my earthly father, hated me and did nothing to reach out to restore me, or even minister to me. Then I realized that these were they, who loved how my father made them feel, or what they could gain from him. It was not a genuine love. More importantly I wondered how so many who claimed to love my Heavenly Father, could hate me, and treat me with such contempt. The answer is simple. They DON’T!
Who really restored me? It was not the preachers, who did not want to risk associating with me, for fear of what others might say. It was not my fellow preacher “friends,” who totally ignored me, because of their disgust or anger. It was not the spiritual “elite,” who set spiritual hoops for me to jump through, before they would claim me as being worthy, of their stamp of approval. No, it was none of those. It was my Father, who took me back, immediately and unconditionally, and the humble and spiritual unknown servants, who loved me, cared for me, nurtured me and made me feel welcome and worthy, who really restored me. Very few preachers were in the group of servants, although there were a few. Most were people, who just did what they thought, that their Heavenly Father, would have them do.
He that saith, he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness, hath blinded his eyes. I John 32:9-11
Yes, it takes a humble servant to really do the job, of restoration. Really, it is not that hard. It just boils down to bringing the robe, the ring, the shoes, and the fatted calf and celebrating over the prodigal’s return. The real restorers are not the big shots in the pulpit but the servants in the pew. To all of those servants, who have shown me the love of my Father, I offer to you, my deepest gratitude. Thanks for being my Father’s servants, and for being my friend.