‘… He is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise” ’ (Heb. 2:11-12).
Do you remember the brothers in the ‘parable of the lost [prodigal] son’ in Luke 15?
The younger brother returns after shamefully disrespecting the family, having taken part of the family inheritance to eat and drink to his heart’s content, and party with prostitutes. After a short time, he is bankrupt and has no other choice but to return to his father. Instead of receiving what he deserves on his return, he is met with mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and reconciliation.
But not from the older brother. The older brother is jealous, resentful, bitter, scornful, and ashamed of his younger brother.
In many ways, we can relate, can’t we? The older brother has disciplined himself, worked hard, followed orders, been excellent in his work, and done exactly what he was supposed to do. He is the model of a good employee. On the other hand, the younger son is irresponsible, lazy and careless, and squanders the family fortune. What is worse, he doesn’t even get a slap on the hand. Not even a mere scolding. It’s simply not fair. He doesn’t ‘get what he deserves’.
At best, the younger brother should be treated as a servant – it’s what he was expecting. He should be scolded and lectured. He should spend time paying back the family. Working hard to prove himself sorry. If he is truly repentant, he won’t mind proving it. He deserves to be carefully observed and suspiciously watched.
If I can be honest for a minute, my inclination is to be more like the older brother than the father.
This parable shows us not just the lavishing grace of the Father but also points us to how the older brother should have been. The story leaves us longing for a better older brother, doesn’t it?
‘He is not ashamed to call them brothers’
Jesus is nothing like this brother.
Filled with compassion and tenderness, he says to the Father: ‘I will go to my brother. I will travel to a distant land. I will seek him out. And I will do it at a cost to myself.’ From heaven he came and sought His lost brother, kisses him, lifts him out of the filth that he’s found him in, tenderly places him on His shoulders and carries him home. He tends to him. He cleans him. He robes him in his own righteousness. He justifies. He sanctifies. He intercedes for him on behalf of the Father. He reconciles – returning the younger brother into the arms of the Father. And he is not content that His brother be treated as a servant: ‘This is my brother, all that is mine is his. Let’s celebrate. For this brother of mine was lost, but is now found.’
As Clive Bowsher so beautifully says: ‘Jesus doesn’t just whisper that you’re His brother or sister. He writes it large across the pages of the New Testament. He’s never ashamed to look you in the eye and say: “You’re family” ’ (Heb. 2:11–12).
Christ is not ashamed to call you brother. He is not ashamed to call you sister. He is not ashamed to call you family. No shame is so deep that does not have His compassion. No sin is so deep that He will not rescue you from it. And there is no distance so great that He will not seek you out.
What a gloriously attractive God. What a friend. What a brother!
Whether coldness of affections or devotion, weakness or habitual sin, incompetency or inability – look to Him. Gaze upon Him. Behold Him. Lean your full weight upon Him. Christ is not ashamed to call you brother. To call you sister. To call you family. He has joined you to Himself and brought you into the same affectionate embrace that He enjoys with the Father.
