Luke 15: The Incarnation

Each week I meet with two separate groups of guys for the purpose of sharing life, praying, and studying the Bible and (hopefully) growing as more mature disciples of Jesus. In each group there are three guys (me and two others). We call these groups Triads. The concept of the Triad is outlined in Greg Ogden’s amazing book, “Transforming Discipleship.”

Ogden wrote a companion book to Transforming Discipleship called “Discipleship Essentials.” Discipleship Essentials is, for lack of a better phrase, a discipleship workbook. Each week you study a specific topic, from the Incarnation to Sin to Grace to Worship to Prayer to Giving to the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, it’s got a lot of good information to be shared over the course of a year. Each week consists of a Core Point, a memorization verse, an in-depth Bible study and an extra reading.

All of that to say…this last week, with my guys, we looked at Luke 15 and the famous story of the Lost Son. Ogden points out some ideas in his writing I think are worth mentioning here.

There is much familiar about this parable; the selfish son, his wild living, the father who welcomes him back with arms wide open. But, as always, I find things in the Bible I have never noticed.

First off, he states that you can find both the Incarnation and the Cross in this parable, even though neither are specifically mentioned. Today, the Incarnation. Later in the week, the Cross.

The Incarnation is the idea that God came to earth as the person Jesus. He leaves his home to meet us sinners where they can be found. 

In this parable, it states:
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20 ESV)

The father, although sinned against by his son, leaves his home to meet his boy where he is. He doesn’t stand with his arms folded on his front porch, looking down at his son, expecting an apology. He doesn’t ignore the boy or pretend as though he doesn’t see him. No, he leaves his home and meets his wayward son on the road back home.

And this is the Incarnation of Christ. Later in the week, I’ll write about the Cross in this parable.