The Robe, the Ring and the Sandals - Mike Mannes
Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2009-07-16 15:43.
Here’s the scene when the son returns home:
“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.” Luke 15:20-24
I am so struck with the symbolism of the gifts that the father gives to his son, because I think they represent so well the gifts that our Heavenly Father gives to each of us, His lost children:
The robe represents a covering for our hurts, our shame, our failures, our mistakes and our inadequacy.
The ring reminds us that we’re part of a family (just like rings in that culture were like family seals). God, through the price paid by Jesus Christ on the cross, has adopted each of us as His sons and daughters. More and more as He works in us, we will take on a greater family resemblance, “transformed into His likeness” day by day.
The sandals remind us that we are not an accident. We are His workmanship. God created you and me for a reason. He has a future and a destiny for us that He will enable us to fulfill. It is not safe or easy, but it is good and exciting and RIGHT. And then, we have a future with Him, where we will spend eternity in a new heaven and a new earth. At that point, we’ll be truly living – maxed out in joy, in fulfillment, in peace, in excitement and in community.
Here’s the scene when the son returns home:
“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.” Luke 15:20-24
I am so struck with the symbolism of the gifts that the father gives to his son, because I think they represent so well the gifts that our Heavenly Father gives to each of us, His lost children:
The robe represents a covering for our hurts, our shame, our failures, our mistakes and our inadequacy.
The ring reminds us that we’re part of a family (just like rings in that culture were like family seals). God, through the price paid by Jesus Christ on the cross, has adopted each of us as His sons and daughters. More and more as He works in us, we will take on a greater family resemblance, “transformed into His likeness” day by day.
The sandals remind us that we are not an accident. We are His workmanship. God created you and me for a reason. He has a future and a destiny for us that He will enable us to fulfill. It is not safe or easy, but it is good and exciting and RIGHT. And then, we have a future with Him, where we will spend eternity in a new heaven and a new earth. At that point, we’ll be truly living – maxed out in joy, in fulfillment, in peace, in excitement and in community.
