Into the Far Country

Barth famously describes the incarnation as the Son’s journey into a far country, borrowing a phrase from the story of the Prodigal Son.  Is Jesus the Prodigal?

The parable of Luke 15 doesn’t completely work as an allegory of Jesus; it’s an allegory of Israel in the first instance.  But Jesus is Israel and His journey is the journey of His people.  He goes to a far country; He spends time with harlots; He feeds swine; He was dead and lives again; His Father invests Him with a robe and a ring, kisses and rejoices over His return, calls out the singers to celebrate.