I believe that Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal son captures the essence of the Christian faith. It’s a story of repentance and forgiveness and grace. It is also a story of self-righteousness, resentment, and anger, because of one character in the story, the oldest brother. His story is so different from that of his brother. The older brother didn’t go into the far country. He didn’t lose his inheritance, didn’t live among pigs. He stayed home… did what was expected of him. He was obedient. Yet the older son peers with critical eyes and a cold unforgiving heart at both his brother who’s broken all the rules and his father, so eager to welcome his wayward son back home.

Notice how he refers to his relationship with his father. He says, “all these years I’ve been slaving for you”… those are revealing words. Not “working for you” or “serving you” or “helping with the family farm.” No, he says he was “slaving for his father.” And notice how he refers to his brother: “But when this son of yours … comes home.” He can’t even refer to him as his brother, just “this son of yours.” The older brother is spiteful, angry, and resentful. And some of us can understand that. We sometimes wonder why God bends over backward to welcome back the wayward and seems to ignore those of us who have always played by the rules. And yet it’s important that we hear Jesus’ message.

We sometimes read this parable and consign the older brother to the supporting cast, a minor character in the narrative. The truth is, Jesus may have intended for him to be the central character in the narrative. Remember who Jesus is telling this story to — this parable gives hope to the tax collectors and the sinners. But it’s a devastating judgment on the attitudes and actions of the scribes and the Pharisees. They are the ‘older brother’ in Jesus’ parable. Keeping the law but looking with disdain upon those not as righteous as they are. And that is how the church appears to many people in our society today.

Joseph Stowell, president of the Moody Bible Institute began a message on this parable with these words: “I have never known a time when Christians have been more mad about more things than we are now. … We’re angry about values, politics, abortion. We’re shouting more. Publicly we are perceived to be long on madness and short on mercy. Such attitudes are making it more and more difficult for us to reach people, especially young people with the message of Christ.”

Three characters. Two brothers. What does Jesus’ parable say to us today? I know it’s harder for older brothers to see their sin than it is to see the sins of weaker brothers or sisters. But the Father says the same to both: Come home. Come home to the waiting arms of the Father.

REV. JOHN MOXLEY can be reached at Jmoxley1@juno.com.