The Beauty of Grace: A Lenten Lesson on the Prodigal Son
Grace is one of the most beautiful and transformative truths in Scripture. It is God’s unmerited favor—God’s love and forgiveness poured out on those who don’t deserve it. Nowhere is this more vividly displayed than in Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).
A Story of Rebellion
The parable begins with a younger son who demands his inheritance while his father is still alive—a deeply dishonoring act. He essentially tells his father, “I want your money, but I don’t want you.” He then takes his wealth and wastes it on reckless living. His journey of self-indulgence ends in ruin. When a famine strikes, he finds himself destitute, feeding pigs—an unthinkable low for a Jewish man.
At this moment of despair, he comes to his senses. He realizes that even his father’s hired servants live better than he does. So he decides to return home, not as a son, but as a servant, hoping for mercy.
A Father’s Lavish Grace
As the son approaches home, expecting rejection, something astonishing happens. His father sees him from a distance and runs to him—an undignified act for a man of his stature. Before the son can even finish his rehearsed apology, the father embraces him, clothes him in the best robe, puts a ring on his finger, and throws a feast in his honor.
This is the beauty of grace. The father doesn’t demand repayment. He doesn’t make the son earn his way back. Instead, he restores him fully, not because the son is worthy, but because of the father’s love.
The Elder Brother’s Struggle
The older brother, however, is furious. He has been faithful, yet never received such a celebration. He sees grace as unfair—why should the rebellious son be welcomed back so easily? But the father gently reminds him that all he has is already his, and that grace is not about fairness, but about love.
The Beauty of Grace in Our Lives
Like the prodigal, we have all turned away from God at some point, chasing after things that never truly satisfy. And yet, God’s grace calls us home. God does not make us work our way back. Instead, God runs to us, embraces us, and restores us as God’s children through Jesus Christ.
At the same time, we must guard against the heart of the elder brother—resenting grace when it is given to others. God’s love is boundless, and God’s grace is extravagant. The beauty of grace is that it is freely given, even to those who least deserve it—including us.
So let’s rest in God’s grace, extend it to others, and rejoice when the lost are found. That’s the heart of our Father.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
