As I thought about the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I have always wondered if there was really anything wrong with the Older son. Could we not look at him as someone who is seeking justice, something that most people seek for? His brother did not suffer the full consequence of his sin, alienation from his father. Does not he have the right to complain about the perceived injustice? I have heard of stories where criminals are forgiven by their victims. A part of me thinks it is wrong, since I believe that criminals should pay the full consequences of their crimes. However, as I think about God in the bible, from the beginning of creation, he has been a gracious God. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, the God who made Cain into a wanderer, in a great display of grace, placed a mark on Cain and protected him from anybody who is going to kill him.  

     The story of God's grace towards Cain made me reflect on what kind of God we have. He is a God who gives grace even to the worst of sinners. The sun shines on both the Godly and the UnGodly. This truth gave me a glimpse of what was wrong with the older son in the Parable of the Prodigal son, and the Pharisees of Jesus' day. They opposed the God of grace by inferring that God's grace does not rest on certain people. These certain people are the sinners and people who are different from them.

     Who then are the Pharisees of today? Those who drive people away from the Grace of God. When we shun people, not looking at them as worthy of salvation (eternal life in the presence of God), not worthy to become our brothers and sisters in Christ, we have become like the Pharisees. This could take the form of ignoring people who come to our church because we don't really want them to come back, or we may just be indifferent towards them.

    There is also another form of Pharisaism today. Remember that the Spirit of Phaisaism drives people away from the Grace of God, which saves them. Some liberal churches, by denying that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone, is driving people away from God's grace. This liberal churches seem to be open to others, but in reality, they drive people away from God's grace. Jesus Christ is the provision of God's grace. To insinuate that a person does not need Jesus because any religion is good is to drive people away from God' grace.

    The older brother would have been fine if his brother continued to be a wanderer. The pharisees of today would have been fine to let others continue in spiritual darkness, whether by shunning them or by teaching that they don't need God's grace in Jesus. An antidote to Phariseeism is to acknowdedge that there is no other way to salvation except by grace through faith in Jesus, the personification of God's grace, a grace we are to share with all people.