My son…was lost, and is found – there is the heart of the story.
It is NOT a question of what the son suffers, but of what the Father loses.
He is the Sufferer; He is the Loser.
A sheep is lost; whose is the loss? The shepherd’s.
A coin is lost; whose is loss? The woman’s.
A son is lost; whose is the loss? The Father’s.
That is the Lesson!