...AND KISSED HIM
And Kissed Him
Luke 15:20
Luke chapter 15 and verse number 20 brings us into one of the clearest and most beautiful pictures of God the Father found anywhere in Scripture. In this familiar account of the prodigal son, Jesus gives us more than a story about rebellion and repentance—He gives us a portrait of the heart of our Heavenly Father.
Throughout the Bible, God is revealed in many ways. Sometimes He is simply God—Jehovah, sovereign and majestic. But in Luke 15, He is pictured as a Father. And I don’t know of a more visible, more tender picture of God than the one Jesus paints here.
Luke records several chapters of red-letter preaching where Jesus teaches us how to pray, how to love our neighbor, and how to walk the narrow way. Yet Luke 15 may be one of Christ’s greatest sermons of all. It is often called the lost and found chapter—the lost sheep, the lost silver, and the lost son. Three stories, yet one message: something was lost, someone searched, and when it was found, there was great rejoicing.
We often focus on the prodigal—the rebellion, the disrespect, the waste, and the sin. And rightly so. There is much to learn from his foolishness. But the prodigal son has never been the hero of this story.
The hero has always been the Father.
The Kiss Reveals the Love of the Father
Verse 20 ends with three powerful words: “and kissed him.”
The Greek word for kissed is kataphileō, meaning to kiss earnestly, again and again, fervently, and with genuine affection. This was not a reluctant peck—it was an overwhelming expression of love.
The son’s sin was great, but the Father’s love was greater.
Someone once said that if Luke had written “kicked him” instead of “kissed him,” we would have understood. But Jesus said kissed him, and that changes everything. The kiss was not based on the son’s actions—it was based on the Father’s heart.
If you want to change your story—or your family’s story—do a lot more kissing and a lot less kicking.
The Kiss Reveals the Thoughts of the Father
When people hurt us, our minds race. We rehearse conversations. We prepare speeches. We load both barrels.
But not this Father.
He didn’t pace the floor waiting to scold his son. When he saw him, he really saw him—broken, empty, wounded. And his only thought was this: I’ve got to get to my son.
Just like a parent running to a child who’s fallen and scraped their knees, the Father ran—not to lecture, but to love.
Charles Spurgeon said it best:
The Kiss Reveals the Restoration of the Father
Here’s something that stood out to me like never before:
The father never said a word to the prodigal son.
No lecture.
No speech.
No probation.
Everything the father needed to say was said in the kiss.
He spoke to the servants. He spoke to the older brother. But to the prodigal? Only restoration—fully and freely given.
The kiss said: It’s over. Welcome home.
Sin condemns. The Father restores.
Conclusion
We need more intimate moments with the Father—moments that don’t become highlight reels, moments that don’t need a microphone.
There are things God does between Him and His children that are meant to stay personal.
The prodigal used his lips for confession.
The Father used His lips for restoration.
You may know about the Father from a distance—but intimacy happens when you come home.
If you’ll come, you’ll find Him running.
And when He reaches you, you’ll find a kiss—and full restoration.
Luke 15:20
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” — Luke 15:20
Luke chapter 15 and verse number 20 brings us into one of the clearest and most beautiful pictures of God the Father found anywhere in Scripture. In this familiar account of the prodigal son, Jesus gives us more than a story about rebellion and repentance—He gives us a portrait of the heart of our Heavenly Father.
Throughout the Bible, God is revealed in many ways. Sometimes He is simply God—Jehovah, sovereign and majestic. But in Luke 15, He is pictured as a Father. And I don’t know of a more visible, more tender picture of God than the one Jesus paints here.
Luke records several chapters of red-letter preaching where Jesus teaches us how to pray, how to love our neighbor, and how to walk the narrow way. Yet Luke 15 may be one of Christ’s greatest sermons of all. It is often called the lost and found chapter—the lost sheep, the lost silver, and the lost son. Three stories, yet one message: something was lost, someone searched, and when it was found, there was great rejoicing.
We often focus on the prodigal—the rebellion, the disrespect, the waste, and the sin. And rightly so. There is much to learn from his foolishness. But the prodigal son has never been the hero of this story.
The hero has always been the Father.
The Kiss Reveals the Love of the Father
Verse 20 ends with three powerful words: “and kissed him.”
The Greek word for kissed is kataphileō, meaning to kiss earnestly, again and again, fervently, and with genuine affection. This was not a reluctant peck—it was an overwhelming expression of love.
The son’s sin was great, but the Father’s love was greater.
Someone once said that if Luke had written “kicked him” instead of “kissed him,” we would have understood. But Jesus said kissed him, and that changes everything. The kiss was not based on the son’s actions—it was based on the Father’s heart.
If you want to change your story—or your family’s story—do a lot more kissing and a lot less kicking.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8
The Kiss Reveals the Thoughts of the Father
When people hurt us, our minds race. We rehearse conversations. We prepare speeches. We load both barrels.
But not this Father.
He didn’t pace the floor waiting to scold his son. When he saw him, he really saw him—broken, empty, wounded. And his only thought was this: I’ve got to get to my son.
Just like a parent running to a child who’s fallen and scraped their knees, the Father ran—not to lecture, but to love.
Charles Spurgeon said it best:
“Slow are the steps of repentance, but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run where we can scarcely limp. If you’ll limp toward God, He’ll run toward you."
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11
The Kiss Reveals the Restoration of the Father
Here’s something that stood out to me like never before:
The father never said a word to the prodigal son.
No lecture.
No speech.
No probation.
Everything the father needed to say was said in the kiss.
He spoke to the servants. He spoke to the older brother. But to the prodigal? Only restoration—fully and freely given.
The kiss said: It’s over. Welcome home.
Sin condemns. The Father restores.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9
Conclusion
We need more intimate moments with the Father—moments that don’t become highlight reels, moments that don’t need a microphone.
There are things God does between Him and His children that are meant to stay personal.
The prodigal used his lips for confession.
The Father used His lips for restoration.
You may know about the Father from a distance—but intimacy happens when you come home.
If you’ll come, you’ll find Him running.
And when He reaches you, you’ll find a kiss—and full restoration.
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