1976 was a really big year. The United States celebrated the bicentennial (the 200-year celebration of our nation's founding). This was met by constant media coverage as the country counted down to July 4th. In 1976, the graduating class of 1982 would be graduating from the 6th grade, and in our town that meant moving on to Jr. High.
The Fall of that year found the space shuttle Enterprise rolling out of its hangar and a presidential election that would see a peanut farmer from Georgia moving into the big house at 1600 Pennsylvania. More importantly, a song would reach #11 on the charts that would be the first of several charting singles over 40 years of recording and touring for this band from Topeka. From 1976's Leftoverture, here's Kansas with "Wayward Son":
"Wayward Son" - Kansas
Kansas has its share of "wayward sons". The band lineup would change 16 times over the course of the history of the band. This would include completely disbanding in 1984-1985, reforming in 1986, and changing lineups 4 times in 1991 alone. Their last album, Somewhere To Elsewhere, would be released in 2000 while their current lineup (which has changed twice since Somewhere To Elsewhere) continues to tour for their loyal fans (called Wheatheads) since forming in 2006. With this lack of continuity, it is a wonder that the "wayward sons" of Kansas have been able to "carry on" at all.
One of the most popular stories that Jesus tells in the Gospels is that of another "wayward son". It is a parable that is meant to illustrate how God the Father is waiting for His "lost" sons to come back to Him after their "fall". Countless sermons, Sunday School Lessons, and Vacation Bible School lessons have been written about the lost son, the temptations that the lost son faced, a forgiving father, and an unforgiving brother, and how all of their stories intertwined to demonstrate God's long-suffering with His children who sometimes realize how good they have it in the Father's house. The Notes does not wish to rehash the entire story but to draw out portions that perhaps haven't already received focus from pulpits and felt boards. Here is Luke 15 from the Holman Christian Standard Bible:
Luke 15
First of all, notice that the prodigal son story is the last of a trilogy. It is the finale of the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. Can you think of other 3s in the Bible? Here is a great article about the number 3 and its use in the Bible:
The Use Of 3 In The Bible
As this article explains, three is considered a holy number. Examples include the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and Jesus being in the tomb for 3 days. The number 3 and the number 7 are considered numbers that signify completion.
Notice also that Luke's Gospel says that the younger brother "squandered all he had on foolish living". Now, before we cast stones while living in a glass house, we all can probably remember times when our utilization of resources wasn't the smartest. So many times when this story is told, we get the feeling that he had buddies or friends that encouraged him to "blow" his money. The Bible says that "he" squandered all he had. Personal responsibility is something that seems to be lost in our current society. It is so easy to blame our current situation on someone other than ourselves when the reality of the situation usually is....we made the decisions that got us where we are. The prodigal son finally came to that point....corncobs anyone?
Also, much has been said about the father in our story watching for his son. He waited expectantly for his son to return home. He wasn't waiting to tell the son "I told you so", he was waiting to embrace the son and welcome him home. All of this is a wonderful picture of our redemption given by our heavenly Father. But little has been said about the other characters in our story at this time. The servants were told to prepare a feast and bring new clothes. What must they have thought about this situation? Were they astonished at the spoiling of the returning son? Were they surprised that they would now be serving the lost son again? Regardless of what they thought, they were given an example of how you are to regard those who return home after making mistakes in their lives. They were treated to a bountiful display of mercy and love beyond their imaginings. One would expect that some of them would have learned a great deal from this beautiful scene played out before their very eyes.
Finally, when redemption occurs, not everyone will be happy. The older brother, who was now heir to everything that was left, was not happy about his brother being alive but was frustrated about the reception and special treatment his brother received. This is like so many who see transformation in their friends and then turn their backs on them. They want no part of the new life that God has given their friend or relative. They just know that there is something "special" about that person that wasn't there before, something that now sets them apart from other folks. We are not told in the story if the older brother ever repented. That wasn't Jesus' purpose for the parable.
With the band Kansas, many of its former members came back. Doubtless, they were welcomed back for a season. With time, tensions that were the very reason for the initial departure come back and another departure becomes the resolution. The difference between Kansas and the prodigal is that once the prodigal returned home, his father wouldn't let him go and more than likely, he never wanted to be gone either. Perhaps his father told him something like this...
"Lay your weary head to rest....don'tcha ya cry no more...."
For your consideration...The Prodigal Son as told by Keith Green: (this one is a little long, but well worth the time)
"The Prodigal Son Suite"
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by loving you,
Randy
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