Introduction : what does it mean to call Jesus a theologian? -- Jesus as a metaphorical theologian and the rabbinic world -- The Jesus tradition and the question of authenticity -- The importance of Middle Eastern culture for New Testament interpretation -- The parable of the prodigal son and the "travel narrative" in Luke -- The one and the many in parabolic interpretation -- Three stories, one parable : seeing the three stories of Luke 15 as a unity -- The parable of the lost sheep : the first warm-up story (Lk 15:3-7) -- The lost coin--and also some women (Lk 15:8-10) -- To find the lost : the parable of the two lost sons (Lk 15:11-32) -- Jacob revisited : the Jacob story in early Jewish tradition and in the mind of Jesus -- The great rebellion : the family before the prodigal leaves home (Lk 15:11-13) -- The exile : the prodigal in the far country (Lk 15:13-19) -- Peace for the one who is far off : the father finds the prodigal (Lk 15:20-24) -- Peace for the one who is near : the father's search for the older son (Lk 15:25-32) -- Two dancers in a single dance : reflections on N.T. Wright's interpretation of the parable of the prodigal son -- A summary of the significance of the comparisons between Jacob and the prodigal for aspects of Jesus' theology.