To grow up in the Middle East is to live within a shame versus honor culture. This means an individual’s actions aren’t simply a reflection of self, but of a larger community. Doing something personally honorable brings honor to a person’s entire ancestral line. The same applies to shame. It is within this cultural context that Scripture gives us a beautiful picture of restoration. In a world where shame and honor are so tightly intertwined with communal, familial, and personal value, we are given an example of God’s character as One who reaches down into a person’s deepest shame and restores their honor.  

‍

Ancient Jewish culture practiced shunning rituals called Kezazah Ceremonies that were used to banish individuals who brought shame to their family and community. The ritual was performed by meeting the shamed person at the city gates to throw clay pots at their feet. The breaking pots symbolized the breaking off, or excommunication, of the shamed individual from their community. The accused’s loved ones stayed home during the ceremony as a public display of rejection toward the one who brought shame to their family. Can you imagine? In the midst of public humiliation, their own family turned their backs on their moment of deepest shame. Talk about hurtful.  

‍

This is the context and culture in which we find the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32.  

‍

This story is so much more than a happy reunion between father and son. According to tradition, squandering an inheritance would be grounds for Kezazah, which means that, in choosing to return home, the son was risking the very real threat of excommunication, but Luke tells us the son chooses to return home.  

‍

Our focus verses in Joel 2:12-13 give a call to repentance, inviting readers to return to the Lord, the One who is “merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Joel 2:13). But Joel makes it clear that returning hinges on the heart. True repentance isn’t just an outward change, but an inward turning of the heart back towards God. This is mirrored in the son’s action to get up and go back to his father. Even though he didn’t know what would be waiting for him at the city gates, he made the choice to repent and return home.

‍

Like the son, we have also been given an inheritance. Romans 8:16-17 calls believers “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,” and 1 Peter 1:4 tells of our “priceless inheritance” in Heaven. This means we are presented with the same choice the son faced because we, too, must choose what we will do with the inheritance we’re given — whether to value it or squander it.  

I’m not sure where it is you’ve been squandering your inheritance by living for the world and not for God, but I do know that, like we see with the Prodigal Son, restoration requires the boldness to get up, turn around, and go back. We must decide to get up, turn from sin, and go back to God.  

‍

In Luke 15:20, we read that when the Prodigal Son “was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” This is a picture of a dad who had been watching, ready to throw himself between his son and his accusers. Ready to protect him from shame and rejection, and to welcome him back as his beloved son. No banishment. No condemnation. No Kezazah. Simply forgiveness, welcome, restoration, and celebration.  

‍

Sound familiar? You see, friend, that’s what Jesus offers for our repentance. We’re offered a Father who puts Himself between His beloved child, and the accuser, Satan. A Savior who bore our shame and rejection so that we could have a place in His family. One who prepares a banquet and fills our cups to overflowing. Not because we’re sinless, but in spite of our sin, simply because we’ve come to Him.  

‍

He alone dove into the depths of our deepest shame, reaching down to pull us back up, restore our honor, and give us abundant life.  

‍

Restoration life begins when you turn from whatever sin is in your life and turn back to the Lord. We serve a God who is powerful enough to restore honor to shame. Be bold enough to take Him at His word!