Tokens of Sonship

"So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms  around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate". LK:15:20-24

One of the best known and loved of all the parables of Jesus is the Prodigal Son, it has given much encouragement over the centuries to many,who have in their lives , come to their heavenly Father and found his loving embrace and his full acceptances of each and all of us his children and had their full son ship restored to them.

This Parable is part of the "Parables of the Lost" all found in St.Luke's Gospel. Lost sheep and lost coin and lost son, all three end in great rejoicing at the Lost being found.

In the parable, as the son returns, his Father calls for his servants to fetch and to bring  three items  and to place each upon his now restored son.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."

The Robe

In the ancient cultures, and even in contemporary culture, robes represented a position of office and authority within society and in the family as well. One who was adorned in a robe stood out to those around them. The robe designated that a person occupied a place in which they were to be heard and regarded.  

We can see an example of this in the Patriarchal household of Israel (Jacob) when he gave his favorite son Joseph a multi colored robe which set him apart from his brothers. 

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age, and he made a robe of many colors for him" Gen:37:3

This robe gave Joseph a designation and a distinction within the household and family which reflected his father's favor toward Joseph and his unique position.  

In the ancient world robes were only worn by full members of the household and never worn by any household servant. 

Robes were also associated with those who held positions of authority.  There were special robes which were worn by the Priest who ministered at the Temple of God which only they could put on.

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor"Ex:28:2.

These robes of the Priesthood, these sacred garments, reflected their position among the people.

Even in the society of Israel the members of the Sanhedrin were dressed in garments which showed that they were rulers among the people and part of the governing body of Israel.

The Best Robe

The robe called for by the Father of the prodigal is referred to as the "best Robe" and the Father commanded his servants to place it upon the returned son, again emphasizing that they now served this son and should show him all proper accord. 

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him."   

This Father wanted to make sure that his son knew that he was received back in full by he, and the whole household, and that this son did not return to a diminished status.

A Ring

 The Father called for a ring to be placed upon his sons hand by the servants. 

"Put a ring on his finger"     

This ring, the Father's signet,   like the robe before it, reflected the status which the son had been restored to.

Rings of this type carried the family seal or crest engraved upon it. Those sons who wore such rings were able to conduct the Fathers business with his full authority. 

These rings were intricate and of great value and those who wore them were to recognized that they held  place of great regard among the family and society at large, and were expected to uses that authority wisely and justly within and without the household. 

The signet ring represent a place of ruler ship.

"Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand,"Gen:42:41

This conferring of the signet ring to Joseph showed that he acted under Pharaoh's authority to rule.  

Sandals

The rejoicing Father then commands that his servants place sandals upon the son's feet. 

"and sandals on his feet" 

In the ancient world very few slaves or servants wore sandals. It was rear that a household servant was given sandals to place then upon his feet, usually only family members were found with them.  

Without sandals slaves and servants were limited to where they could go and gave them few options.  Again, the sandals represented the status of the son as one who had freedom to come and go as he needed and to conduct their Fathers affairs and walk in authority. 

Sandals also represent among the people a calling of great importance as defend the Father's honor and propitiates, even  as solders who's feet were shod with special sandals which allowed them to march and  to hold their ground and place in the ranks.    

Tokens of Sonship

Jesus gave this parable to illustrate to us all ,about how our Father in Heaven ,who stands  and watches for us, looking daily for us , and when he sees us approaching he  runs toward us rejoices when any and all ,who like the lost Prodigal son,  comes to see that they have squandered their inheritance in a far country and have now come home to his loving embrace and a celebration.

The Fattened Calf

The Father then calls for a fattened calf to be slaughtered and served as the main course of a celebration in honor of the return of his son. This is joy which only a Father can know, with the return to the household of an estranged son, now who is now fully reconciled. 

As the Father sacrificed the very best of his livestock for his son, our God gave the best he could, the life of his own son Jesus, for each and all of Prodigal humanity.

"for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" Jhn:3:16

Celebration of this type were reserved for members of the family and their family friends, servants seldom received such honors.

It was an expense, even for the wealthy to part with a calf of this kind. Calves represented wealth and were the future of the lives stock properties, yet this Father gave it up joyfully for his returned son. 

The servants assess to celebration would have been relegated to that of serving the honored guest and the household.

This celebration is to reflect the Heavenly joy at the return of any and all who return home to their Father from the far country of "lostness"

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents"Lk:15:7

"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”(10)

What the Prodigal son is given upon his return reflects what our Father in Heaven confers upon each of us when we come home to his household.

The Robe 

We are dressed in the very garment or robe of our elder brother Jesus Christ.

"for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."Gal:3:27

"Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh."Rm:13:14

We have all thru Jesus been given the right to be the very Children of God to conduct our selves as full members of the household of God with full rights of sonship.

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--" Jhn:1:12

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ" Rm:8:17

As the robes designated the rulers and priest in the ancient cultures we are now seen as Kings and Priest of our God 

"You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth"Rev:5:10

The Signet 

We as Children of God ,with full rights of the family , like our older brother Jesus  carries the seal of our God ; the Holy Spirit who directs us in living out our sonship. We have been given the very signet of our Father upon us, his very seal.

"set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2Crth:1:22

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit," Eph:1:13

The Sandal's Upon Our Feet

We then are like the bare foot Prodigal son have returned home, and have been given the sandals of sonship placed upon our feet. Showing we can now walk as free sons of the household of the Father knowing we have entered into his peace.

"and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace"Eph:6:15.

We can with the sandals of the Gospel walk as members of the household of God spreading his peace to those around us, and like the solders, we have been given the traction we need as we walk thru this like.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."Eph:4:1

The Calf

The great sacrifice which was given so that we all could rejoice together was the most costly of all that of our Lord Jesus who died so that our place as rejoiced over sons of God who have returned home to our Fathers' household.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2Crth:5:22

This great sacrifices of the Son of God has made possible the celebration which is enacted in the Heavens but will carry on thru out eternity among us as we come and sit down together in the household of our Father as he rejoices over us and with us

The Parable's celebration looks ahead to the rejoicing which will last for all eternity for the son(s) which were lost has come home.

For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate".

Benediction:May we each and all rejoice in our Fathers household as we walk and adorned with   the tokens of father's  Sonship, today ,tomorrow and forevermore .Amen 

 Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor  

The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion ,

 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

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