Reshaping the Definition of Justice and the
Meaning of Mercy
A Narrative Analysis of The Parable of the
Prodigal Son
Introduction and
Background
Christianity
is a religion centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the gospel consists
of three main components. First,
God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to Earth in order to redeem humanity. The idea of the trinity, that God
exists as one being in three forms (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), was and still
is an unprecedented idea. Jesus
needed to fulfill the old covenantal law in its entirety; he had to live a
perfect life. Jesus, being fully
God and fully human, gave himself up to a hostile people as a sacrificial
offering. The death curse of
humanity and the power of sin was lost when Jesus took his final breath of
life, in which at that time all the consequences of human rebellion was placed
upon the God-man, Jesus Christ.
The redemptive power of the Savior is evident in the third and final
component. Jesus lived a perfect
life in thought and deed, gave himself up for an unworthy people, and then came
back to life in order to show the world that he had power over sin and death. The fact that Jesus rose from the grave
solidifies his teachings and parables; without the revival of life over death,
his words and lessons are meaningless.
Though
Christianity might be popular among Western cultures and nations, this brief
overview of the religion probably seems completely absurd to many, even to
those within the church. Also,
Jesus' teachings, presently found within the New Testament, were
counter-cultural. Jesus lived
amongst Jews during a time period in the Middle East that highly valued
justice. Exodus 21: 24 in the
Hebrew Bible states, "But if there is serious injury, you are to take life
for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for
burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." However, Jesus brought a completely new idea of mercy and
forgiveness to this region and the rest of the world. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is an important artifact because millions of
people all across the world use this teaching daily when dealing with
individuals. Moreover, this
parable continues to be a radical idea when compared to other major world
religions.
Research Question and
Thesis
The
research question this article seeks to answer is, "How did this parable
reshape the way individuals approached issues of justice and mercy?" This essay claims that The Parable
of the Prodigal Son taught an
unprecedented lesson in which people should lend mercy in an occasion where
justice should be given.
Methodology
Narrative
Criticism will be used in order to analyze this parable. Sonja Foss states, "By creating
stories out of the raw material of our experience, we not only establish
coherence for ourselves but create meaningful discursive structures that may be
communicated and shared" (Foss 307).
Jesus used his divine experience to present numerous moral lessons on
life that could then be shared and spread by others.
Parable Summary
The
Parable of the Prodigal Son begins
by stating that a man has two sons, and the younger son takes his inheritance
early but squanders all of his possessions while away in a far country. After losing everything, the younger
son decides to try to return home because he was in dire need. Realizing that his father might be
extremely upset upon his return, he decides that he will ask for forgiveness. As the son approaches his old home, the
father sees his son far off and runs out excitedly to greet him. The father states at the end, "It
was fitting to be glad, for this brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost,
and is found." Within this
statement from the father is the new idea of mercy and forgiveness introduced
by Jesus.
New Values
The
first items of interest are the new values of mercy and forgiveness that are
embedded in the narrative. It has
already been stated by scripture that Jewish culture valued the idea of
justice. In this case, many Jewish
individuals during this time period would have expressed severe frustration
with the son's actions and allowed him to suffer the consequences of wasting
away his father's money. The son
also expresses the idea that he should receive punishment for his actions when
he states, "I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired
servants" (Luke 15:19).
However, this narrative introduces a new idea to the culture: the father
gave mercy when the son should have been given justice for his actions. Not only does the son receive mercy,
but he also receives a celebration hosted by the one man who he betrayed. If one were to hear this story but not
be aware of the son's outcome after he squandered his inheritance, many would
probably state that the son deserved to be punished for his actions, directly
or indirectly. Yet here is a man
claiming to be God who exhorts his listeners to forgive.
Cultural Resonance
The
forgiveness offered by the father in the parable created dissonance with the
individuals of the contextual culture.
However, by speaking this parable, Jesus revealed an element of morality
of a new radical Christian lifestyle.
In a world dominantly ran by justice, Jesus offers a new instruction to
forgive those who have wronged you, even in the worst-case scenarios. There exists no "eye for an
eye," and "tooth for a tooth" any longer for the disciples of
Christianity. One must go outside
this parable in order to understand the importance of this lesson. Jesus states that if an individual is
indeed a disciple and a follower, then she or he must obey what he commands;
Jesus commands mercy and forgiveness.
This lesson creates resonance throughout the world because the culture
is based on ideologies, not only geographic location.
Character
The younger son can represent those who live
outside of God's law who desire to come "home." The story tells the audience that this
man squandered his money away on prostitutes, an action that can leave any
person feeling extremely guilty.
The beauty of the story lies in the mercy that the father shows his son,
and this can resonate with individuals who have experienced sexual promiscuity
that want to enter into a Christian life.
Not only will the younger son be forgiven, but also there is no guilt
given by the father within the story.
The
father essentially represents God the Father, and Jesus wants the listener to
understand that God acts in the same manner. The younger son develops a statement to give upon arrival,
but his father cuts him short. The
father not only forgives him immediately, but also offers him the best
robe. Jesus wants the people to
know that the Father desires for them to come back to him.
Parable Construction
The end of the parable describes a frustrated and
bitter older brother who is upset that his father accepted the younger son's
apology; this represents what the majority of people would feel. The father is
opening new doors for individuals who do not deserve mercy. By giving the older brother's account,
Jesus is showing his culture that this new teaching will be difficult to grasp.
Conclusion
Lessons
on life are easier spoken than learned and acted. Some lessons exist only to guide a specific individual;
perhaps an audience of one will only hear it. That one must be responsible for his or her actions is a
moral code by which most modern humans live. Christianity has introduced numerous new teachings that
continue to challenge societal moralities. Jesus uses The Parable of the Prodigal Son to show that God values mercy and forgiveness
when justice should be served, given that the individual is turning to
God. A new culture arises from
these teachings, and the fact that the radical counter-cultural lessons are
given by Jesus displays his own divinity.
This analysis contributes to rhetorical theory because it helps show, in
part, the radical ideological belief that Christians possess.
