Dr. Kenneth Bailey on The Prodigal Son Parable

With Joy, He runs to us and restores us

Lost Sons | Meaning | Examples

About Us

The purpose of this website is an attempt to present some of the work of world renowned scholar Dr. Kenneth Bailey who lived and taught in the Middle East for over 40 years.

Increasingly, I love the format of the Internet where anyone, anywhere, anytime, can say anything they want. Whereas many find it more difficult to be open in church. It is my belief that God is close to those who reveal their hearts--the good, the bad, and the ugly. For as I have found, this angry, stubborn man is only renewed by His grace.

Martin Luther & The Prodigal Son

Prodigal God, Tim Keller

Write Keith Brown with comments/questions

Video - Dr. Ken Bailey

Prodigal & Shepherd

The Joyful Shepherd

posted on 02/15/12

Shepherd Carrying Sheep Jesus told the lost sons (prodigal), the lost sheep, and the lost coin as one, inter-related parable. Interestingly, the early church didn’t use the symbol of the cross for Christianity but instead used, among other things, the image of a joyful shepherd carrying the sheep back to its fold.

For some, it's difficult to see how Jesus' death on the cross saves. In fact, some see God as brutal because of the cross. For these, the Good Shepherd image may more clearly show the heart of God and better explain the need for the cross—a picture that weds both a good and joyful shepherd (God) and a previously terrified sheep (us) wrapped around his shoulders as he joyfully goes about his mission of restoring his sheep.

Lost Sheep Parable Explained