The Family Portrait

Rembrandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son has captivated people for centuries. Inspired by Jesus’ parable in Luke 15, the painting captures far more than the moment a rebellious son comes home. Look closely and you begin to see an entire family portrait—and somewhere within it, you may begin to see yourself.

In The Family Portrait, Pete Robertson takes you on a journey through Rembrandt’s masterpiece and the words of Jesus, exploring the people in the painting, the details Rembrandt chose to include, and the spiritual truths they reveal.

Along the way, you’ll wrestle with questions that reach far beyond the canvas:

Which character am I today? Who—or what—is discipling my heart? Why can both rebellion and religion leave us far from the Father? What does it really mean to come home? And once we have experienced the Father’s heart, how do we help others discover Him too?

Pete also shares pieces of his own journey—from losing nearly everything and finding himself broken before God, to an encounter with the Father that changed the direction of his life, the way he saw people, and ultimately the way he understood disciple-making.

This isn’t simply a book about Rembrandt.

And it isn’t simply another study of the prodigal son.

It is an invitation to look at the family portrait and discover yourself in the story.

You may never look at Rembrandt’s masterpiece—or Luke 15—the same way again.

Discover who—or what—has been discipling your heart.