Enjoy your drink

Joshua told the story of a young man who got the idea that waiting for his father to die so he could really begin to live was a waste of time. So this prodigal did the unthinkable and demanded his share of the inheritance. His wise old man gave him what he thought he wanted hoping he would realize what he already had. Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the famine ravaged and now slightly wiser son was compelled by circumstances to come crawling back home. Instead of just coming empty handed though, he came with a plan. He had squandered his portion of the inheritance and thus given up any claim to the Father’s wealth. The best he could hope for was to he be accepted as a day laborer. He would earn his keep and not ask for anything more. Standing before his father with his well rehearsed speech, he was swept off his feet by his fathers embrace, his speech, lost in the paternal gush of delight at the return of the lost son. In a frenzy of activity that must have left his head spinning, he found himself a guest of honor in the house he had rejected, wearing the robe and ring of the man whose authority he had despised and eating at a table he had previously though little of. What was he thinking when he left, what a fool he had been and how lucky he was that his father had not ordered his guards to throw him off the property. He certainly would have deserved it.

Joshua did not provide any insight into the young man’s thoughts but if he's anything like most people we can guess what his thoughts were. He certainly sounded contrite as he rehearsed his speech to his father. In the speech he acknowledged the magnitude of his offense, made no excuses and was prepared to take responsibility. However it is also possible that though he had physically come home his heart, his affections, respect and devotion had not returned. He may have merely come as a matter of necessity to escape the famine. After that display of affection he may have wondered: What was life going to be like with the old man? Was he going to have to pay for this act of generousity in some as yet hidden way? Was this his father’s way of holding him in debt forever? If he accepted this act of kindness he would never be able to be his own man again. Maybe he should have insisted on the original plan. That way when he began to feel the walls closing in again or got restless he could simply walk away with whatever he had earned without feeling guilty. On the other hand, in view of what he had done, his Father’s generosity may have felt like a pile of hot coals of guilt and shame on his head. Well so much for independence. As the Father celebrated his son, his wine goblet probably raised to toast the lost and found, it is easy to imagine a very uncomfortable returnee. A now bewildered son brought his goblet to his mouth but hardly tasted the wine as his mind reeled with all the possible ramifications of the days events.

Joshua told this story to more than his immediate audience. In a way it is the story of why the well came to be and is for all who come to the well thirsty. The well in not merely the place where the thirsty come to quench their thirst. It is a place of rejoicing where the Father brings restoration to his lost sons. At the well there is a robe, a signet ring, a fatted calf waiting for whoever comes. No one is worthy and there are no terms of employment to earn the water that flows here. The Father’s pleasure is not in enslaving his sons or exacting full payment for offenses committed. His desire is not to crush the returnee with the guilt and shame of their past. Instead His delight is in the lost and found. So for every lost son who feels thirsty, there is water with no condemnation at Joshua’s well. And for those who have come to the well, this is a celebration and you are the guest of honor. The Father has raised his glass – to your health. Go ahead, drink deep of his goodness and enjoy your drink!