Lost and Found Luke 15:1-32
Introduction
There is an entire television series simply called, “Lost.” Guys are notorious for refusing to admit when they are lost or to ask directions. Many today feel like they are making excellent headway in life but really have no idea where they are headed. Jesus told Zaccheus, a tax collector with a desire to see Jesus “…the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Most today don’t even realize they are lost and refuse to ask or take directions. The reality is that until Jesus seeks and finds us, everyone is lost and will die lost. We will never feel at home. We will never know true meaning in life. The Bible clearly states man’s refusal to seek God; ask directions.
As it is written, "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for god; all have turned aside, together they have become useless; there is none who does good, there is not even one. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep deceiving, the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of god before their eyes." Rom 3:10-18
God created all men with an internal sense of His existence. It is like a homing signal that points the way home.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. Romans 1:18-19
At some point we either pursue that signal or suppress it. We will embrace Him or resist and ignore Him. How do we get so far off track? And how can we get back on track?
I. The situation
Jesus interacted with two groups of people. Jesus related these stories to emphasize how God really feels about lost people.
Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." Luke 15:1-2
A. Tax collectors and sinners
Tax collectors collected money for the Roman government. The money they collected was more like a customs or tariff on goods. They could be Romans but the office was also filled by native Jews. They were not always honest. They often collected more than what they were suppose to. They were considered collaborators, turncoats, extortionists, thieves
Matthew was a tax collector. Zaccheus was a chief tax collector. They were hated and ranked with harlots on the popularity scale. Sinners were anyone else not considered part of the spiritual elite. These were people to be avoided and rejected. They were certainly not worthy of inclusion in the community of God. These particular tax collectors and sinners however, seemed to have a heart to learn. They came to listen to what Jesus had to say.
B. The Pharisees and Scribes
Here was a group of people that considered themselves above everyone else.
They fancied themselves as the holy gatekeepers commissioned to protect the kingdom from all undesirables and sinners. The response of these people was not exactly what we might expect from godly people. When they noticed Jesus receiving and connecting to the very people they were sworn to despise, they boldly verbalized their disapproval.
They “grumbled” to mutter complain, murmur stemming from a strong personal negative attitude. Their negative attitude is obvious by their reference to Jesus: “this man.”
Jesus not only welcomed tax collectors and sinners, He ate with them like they were His friends. This rotted the socks off the spiritual elite. Here is an obvious example of prejudice. Prejudice groups people together according to some external criteria, slaps on a label and always views them according to their classification rather than individuals.
The criteria may be color, race, nationality, school, church, religion, side of town, wardrobe, economic status, marital status, age, gender. The individual is judged based on their association with the group. That’s why it is called pre judge. To pre judge on the basis of the group not the individual.
C. Jesus
Jesus – Yahweh saves. The Good Shepherd. Son of God. Jesus responded much differently than anyone expected. Here is a highly respected teacher, a devout Jew with royal blood associating with low life. He received them, welcomed them, accepted them and even sought to connect with them. To receive someone is to draw them into your circle, cherish, accept, or anxiously wait. Jesus not only received them but went even further by eating with them. Eating a meal together in that culture was a sign of acceptance, hospitality and close fellowship. Jesus connected with these people because He valued them. They were all image bearers of His Father in need of the truth. These were “hungry sinners’. They were there to hear what Jesus had to say about God. That put them on common ground.
Jesus told these parables to address the prejudicial attitudes and actions of the religious leaders toward people outside their circle. There are lessons to learn for those struggling with prejudice and for those feeling distant from God and need to know how God really feels about them.
II. The Stories
Common elements in each parable
• Each story focused on someone or something “lost” that once had connection.
• Each parable highlighted the action of the owner toward the lost.
• Each parable included the eventual repentance and return of the lost.
• Each parable emphasized the jubilant response for the return of the repentant sinner.
Unique elements in each parable
• Each story highlights a slightly different aspect of the owners “search”.
• Each story highlights a different reason for being lost.
The term sinner used here conveys the basic idea of “missing the mark”. Sinner, in this context, refers to any who fail to reach God’s standard. A sinner is one who continues to “miss the required mark or target”. Scripture emphatically declares that ALL have sinned and come short of the God’s target. His target, His requirement is absolute conformity to His holy law. Only perfect people are invited to participate in God’s perfect community.
Otherwise it would no longer be perfect. It would eventually look like it does now.
God’s salvation has to do with transforming us into Christ’s likeness; turning sinners into saints. Not only to forgive us but to transform us and present us holy and blameless before God.
A. The Lost Sheep 15:3-7
So He told them this parable, saying, "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!
In this parable the lostness was do to “wandering away”. This parable emphasizes the PRIORITY of finding and restoring the lost. He left the ones that were doing ok in order to search for the one who was lost.
• Lost to usefulness to the owner.
• Lost to community and fellowship with the shepherd and the flock.
• Lost to protection of the sheepfold.
When we walk off of God’s path we are lost to usefulness in ministry. We are lost to fellowship with God or other believers. We lose the protection and covering of the community of believers. Sheep tend to wander off for any number of reasons.
Distraction, deception, depression, detours, diversion
Jesus highlighted the heart of the Father to seek lost sheep and return them to the fold.
This shepherd searched for the wayward sheep until he found it. The shepherd abandoned his own comfort and fellowship to venture out into the elements in order to find, rescue and return the lost sheep. This shepherd found the lost sheep and carried it back to the rest of the fold.
• Resorted to usefulness to the shepherd.
• Restored to fellowship with the other sheep.
• Restored to the protection of the sheepfold.
Are you a lost sheep? Have you wandered away from God’s loving protection? Have you rejected community with other sheep? Have you forfeited protection that comes from community? The Good Shepherd is out looking for you. It is His priority to do whatever it takes to get you back into the fold. He sends whoever is willing to help in the search.
Are you in the fold? Are you willing to venture out to help search for lost sheep? Is your attitude like that of the Pharisees? Grumbling, complaining. What was the response to the return of the lost sheep?
"When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'
I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Heaven parties when lost sheep return to where they were called to be. Anytime we recognize that we have been going the wrong direction or thinking the wrong way and turn around and change our thinking, all heaven parties. Who in heaven rejoices? The wording of the next parable provides a bit of additional insight. Yes I think the angels celebrate, which is what I have always thought. But according to the second parable, there is rejoicing “in the presence of the angels.” Perhaps this spontaneous outburst of rejoicing comes from those already in heaven awaiting the completion of God’s plan for His sheep.
I can’t help but think that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit also express their joy in the presence of the angels. God parties. Angels party. All those who have trusted Christ for salvation party. We also ought to celebrate here on earth what God celebrates in heaven.
The spontaneous rejoicing of the shepherd and his friends is in direct contrast to the “grumbling” of those who had no concern for the lost. The sheep wandered off and got lost. The shepherd made it His priority to find the lost sheep and return it to the fold.
B. The Lost Coins
"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? "When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!' "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:8-10
Some of the same elements appear in the second parable.
The owner lost something considered important and valuable.
The owner searched for the lost item until she found it.
The owner invited others to share in the joy of finding what was lost.
In this case, the coin became lost in the course of everyday life. It didn’t wander off, it was whisked away in life’s fast pace. Some get lost in the hectic pace of life. They are carried away by the crowd. They find themselves buried by life’s debris.
The first parable focused on the priority of the search in leaving the 99 sheep.
The second emphasized the passion of the search, the energy expended; the perseverance.
She lit a lamp, swept the house and searched carefully until she found it. This parable points to God’s passionate and persistent search for the lost. It is God’s heart to return the lost to Himself and the community. In both of these parables, the lost item was returned (repented) by the diligent effort of the owner making the search a priority and pursing it with passion. The repentance of one lost soul is again a great cause for celestial celebration. All of heaven rejoices. God longs for us to return to Him. He created us to live in unified community with Him and other followers of Christ.
C. The Lost Sons
Jesus’ last story focuses on the dynamics within a family. We may have learned the parable as the parable of the prodigal son. In reality, Jesus highlighted the waywardness of two sons. Both sons were self-centered. Both sons failed to appreciate the privilege of being sons. Neither son enjoyed an intimate relationship with his father. Both sons had heart problems. Both sons were “out of their senses.”
SON #1
A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.' So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Luke 15:12-13
This son portrays the state of the tax collectors and sinners. The son took the father’s love for granted. He had little appreciation for the heritage provided as a son. He failed to appreciate family and connection and community. He was only concerned with his own passions. He was self centered and demanded his share of the estate from the father. He refused to associate with the father or live under his protective way of life. He rebelled and demanded to do his own thing. Sounds a lot like many of us. It is, unfortunately, the choice of so many in the world today. His self-indulgent lifestyle was evident by the short amount of time it took to squander all his father-provided resources. There are many today who have squandered their God-given resources for self-indulgent purposes. They have no sense of community or service or family. They have resisted community with God or His children.
Eventually they hit bottom and hopefully “come to their senses.” Because this son purposely walked away, it would take a decision on his part in order to return. The Father did not chase after him or seek him or support his self indulgent lifestyle. The harsh consequences of a rebellious life brought him to a logical conclusion.
"Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. "So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. "And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. "But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! 'I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men." ' Luke 15:14-19
He realized the error of his rebellious choice and decided to return with a humbled heart.
The Father’s response
1. He anticipated his son’s return
"So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him
I feel like the father continually watched for his return.
2. He was filled with compassion
and was filed with compassion
For many of us that might not be the first emotion.
This is a powerful word indicating a deep emotional surge that draws us to respond with mercy and kindness to someone in need.
3. He enthusiastically initiated the reconnection with his son
and ran and embraced him and kissed him
He approached his son. You get the picture of him running down the road throwing his arms around him. He initiated a physical touch. Literally, “and tears fell on the neck of him (the son) and he kissed him repeatedly.
4. He listened to his son
"And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
He allowed his son to verbalize his new perspective.
5. He fully restored his son and affirm his sonship
"But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet
6. He called for a public celebration of his son’s return
and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate.
Have you walked away from the Father? Have you come to the end of your resources?
Have you come to realize the gravity of your action toward your father and how miserably you have fallen short of the required mark? How deeply you have offended Him?
Because of Christ, you can be reunited with your Heavenly Father. Will He receive you?
Jesus received tax collectors and sinners. The Father received the repentant son. The point of the parable is that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost.
Wandered off - Whisked off - Walked away ? You can return today.
SON #2
Luke 15:27-30
You see, the other son was not in close relationship with the Father either. Oh, he didn’t walk away physically but had distanced himself emotionally. He had not realized the privilege of Sonship anymore than the younger son. There are many like the older son.
They try to serve God. They try to keep the rules. Their heart is cold and self-centered.
They are in it for what they can get. There is no real relationship with God. This of course was intended to expose the heard heart of the grumblers. How did the father respond to the second errant son? We find the same loving heart reach out to the older son.
And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.'
Have you actively resisted the father’s love and are afraid to return?
Perhaps you have not yet come to your senses and realized the futility of your actions.
The father is seeking and waiting. Have you lost failed to cultivate relationship with the Father? You may try to keep the rules. You may even acknowledge His presence but your heart is still self-centered and cold. He knows you by name. This is a day for the lost and wayward to return. He longs for you to return to Him and the community of believers.
Come just as you are.
