What the Prodigal Son Missed

5/2/2025

What was the flaw in the “prodigal” son’s speech preparation and anticipation of response by the father in uncannily difficult circumstances?

He still saw the father (Father) on the x and y. “Father’s ways are good and he always has enough, so if I say sorry, he will forgive me and let me serve him. I’ll have my needs met again.” Vs. the father desiring the relationship and longing to give forgiveness to restore that relationship.

He said, “I am *no longer worthy* to be called your son,” as if he had once been worthy. But we NEVER were “worthy.” Only the Blood of the Son gives us “worth” in Father’s sight, not our obedience or lack of. Not our performance or lack of. Just complete, total dependence on the Blood covering us.

He showed he really didn’t know who the Father really was: His Character, His Commitment, His Tenacious Love. All he knew was his own side of the story.

He didn’t think the Father really wanted him.

He didn’t understand his Father’s Heart. Maybe he was trying to show “humility” in an x-y 1 way, but a Father could never treat His own son like a servant! He underestimated his Father and thought his Father would think the way he did. He thought the Father’s commitment to his was based on his performance, not his Father’s DNA.

He didn’t know his father and neither did the son who didn’t leave.

All absolutely true! He underestimated his father! He thought his father was like him.

This verse below is not arrogance.

Arrogance and presumption are the posture of a fool and a disconnected person.

But seen correctly, this is a statement of our faith in GOD’S character, and the humility of knowing our character needs the Blood. But, faith says we absolutely know, beyond thought and word, that Jesus’ Blood is MORE than enough:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

1In this conversation, the XY-axis versus the Z-axis is being used as an illustration of the difference between eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil vs eating of the Tree of Life. XY-axis living is a “flat” natural living of good vs evil. Z-axis is a supernatural Zoe life in Jesus. Back

•  Two Trees, Two Responses