Bottoming Out

Today’s artwork and commentary from the Visual Commentary on Scripture can be found here.

Rembrandt’s sketch from his Prodigal Son series, based on the story in Luke’s Gospel, depicts the low point of the story for the young man who has taken his inheritance in an irregular way and spent it all on hedonistic living. When it has run out, he finds himself at the lowest of ebbs, reduced to being a hired hand feeding pigs and being desperate enough to eat their food.

Whilst there is a strong symbolic dimension to this story, with the son representing the people of Israel and their turning away from God and ending up amongst “unclean” animals, this is contrasted with the subsequent image of the father’s open and welcoming arms. We cannot read this story without the ending, which is one of grace and reconciliation. But we can empathise with the son at rock bottom, and hear the message that perhaps especially when we are at rock bottom in whatever way, God sees, hears, and offers his arms of welcoming embrace. God is then ready to raise us up.

Here is some wonderful music of promise – God will raise us up.