Calling All Friends

Calling all Friends

Luke 15: 8-10

Our text today comes from a familiar chapter where our Lord shares three different parables – The Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and the Lost Son. These parables were given in response to the Pharisees criticism of His interaction with sinners. Jesus offered these parables to reveal His commitment to saving the lost, and His love for them.

We have set aside today as Friends Day. I found the woman’s response very interesting, once she had found the lost coin. She called her friends and neighbors together in order to celebrate. I can think of nothing better to celebrate among friends than the grace of our Lord that brings salvation to us.

As we examine the insights of the parable of Jesus, I want to consider the thought: Calling all Friends.

I. The Reality of the Parable (8) – Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? As Jesus begins this second parable, He reveals the reality of the woman’s situation. Consider:

A. Her Possession (8) – Jesus reveals that the woman in the parable had ten pieces of silver. Each piece represented a day’s wages. This may have been money she had earned, or some believe it may have been from her wedding dowry, given of her father. In this case the coins were strung together on a headpiece. If the woman was ever unfaithful, one of the coins would be removed, declaring her adultery. It is easy to see the value of the coins to her. They provided security and brought her glory. Each coin was of equal value and precious to her.

Jesus was seeking to make a point about the value of each individual. They were all valuable to Him and precious in His sight. A single coin may not have created much concern for others, but it concerned her. The Pharisees saw little value in sinful people, but Jesus cared for them, just like He did the religious.

B. Her Panic (8) – At some point, the woman discovered one of the coins was missing. Although a great majority remained, she valued the one that was lost. Even though she still had nine left, she desired to recover the lost one.

Jesus emphasized the concern He had for one lost soul. While others had believed on Him as the Christ, many had not. There were still those who needed to hear of His great provision and receive Him by faith. We need to share His concern for those who have yet to be saved. I am thankful that my immediate family is saved by His grace, and yet I know many others who are not. We cannot be complacent with those who are already saved at the expense of those who have yet to hear and believe!

C. Her Pursuit (8) – Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? Upon realizing the coin was lost, the woman immediately lit a candle and swept the house in a diligent search for the coin. Unlike the sheep lost in the wilderness, the coin was lost in the security of the home. However, there were aspects of the situation that made the search somewhat difficult. The coin was lost in darkness. She had to light a candle. The coin was lost among the dust and dirt within the home. She swept the floor seeking the coin.

This reveals much about our condition prior to salvation. We discover that lost people exist everywhere, even within the homes of believers. In order for us to be found, literally saved by grace, we needed the Light to reveal our position, being apart from Christ. We too were lying among the dirt and filth of sin, desperately needing to be lifted from our sinful state.

Like the woman, Jesus was passionate and committed to finding and delivering the lost. The Spirit revealed the Light of the Gospel to us, and the Lord lifted us from our depravity, saving us by His marvelous grace!

II. The Rejoicing in the Parable (9) – And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Consider:

A. The Discovery (9) – Jesus revealed that her persistence paid off. Through her diligent search, the coin was eventually found. The coin of great value, that had been lost, was now found and restored unto the place from which it fell.

Again this portrays the miracle that takes place in the life of a believer. We too were lost and undone before the Lord. He was committed to providing the means of our deliverance, offering Himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin. He pursued us by His grace, saving us from sin, and restored us to favor with God. Like the coin, we were helpless to do anything about our lost condition. Sin had created separation from the Lord. With the fall of Adam in the Garden, humanity now stands fallen from the place God desired. In Christ, we are found, set free from our guilt and sin, being restored to a place of fellowship and acceptance with the Father.