January 22 Going after The One Luke 15:3-10
Our lives are most meaningful, most fulfilled, most exciting
when we join Jesus on His mission.
The One=the one who is lost and separated from the Father
The risk
The intentionality
The dedication
The reward
The Father asks: “What will you risk…How intentional will you be…How dedicated will you be—to find The One and celebrate with Me?
Newlyweds Ben and Merissa McNeal had a problem. They were on their way to their wedding in San Diego when Merissa’s wedding dress flew out of their truck bed. By tracing their journey, they were able to narrow it down to being lost somewhere between Oklahoma City and Groom, Texas. (map w/OKC, Groom)
The search involved teamwork. The Texas DOT shared a picture of the wedding dress on their Facebook page, which was shared 900 times. The dress was found within hours and in good condition in Parma, Texas. (updated map with Parma)
Turn with me to Luke 15:3-10. Last week we began this discussion about getting our hearts aligned with the heart of the Father. Getting our lives aligned with His priorities and values. Getting on mission with God. God’s on a mission: that why Jesus came, right? He was on a mission. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 That’s why Jesus came. From the manger in Bethlehem to the cross at Calvary, Jesus was and still is on a mission to seek and save, rescue and redeem those who are separated from the Father.
Our lives are most meaningful, most fulfilled, most exciting when we join Jesus on His mission. If you want to live a life that is off the chart in thrills and excitement, then see yourself as a missionary where you live, work and play. Christians begin to wilt, and churches begin to die, when they get away from the mission. Let me repeat that…
We saw last week that Jesus was all about going after The One. The One=the one who is lost and separated from the Father In Luke 15 Jesus is having dinner with tax collectors and sinners; in other words, He’s spending time with the irreligious and the reprobates. The Pharisees and Scribes hated him for it because their view of holiness was that you didn’t associate with those who were outside the faith community. Aware of their perspective and grumbling, Jesus told 3 of His most notable and powerful parables, stories—bang-bang-bang—to try to shake them from their apathy toward the lost. We’re going to study 2 of them this morning.
So let’s read Luke 15:3-10 (on screen)
The first parable has numbers, has people, and something lost, right?
What are the numbers? 100, 99 & 1. Out of those numbers, which is the most important in Jesus’ story? The One.
Who were the people involved? First and foremost, there was a shepherd, right? But then who? Friends and neighbors that he calls to come help him celebrate.
What was lost? A sheep. Pretty valuable to a shepherd, wouldn’t you think? I mean, a sheep is not particularly valuable to me, but then again, I’m not a shepherd. The sheep was extremely valuable to him.
The second parable has numbers, people, and something lost, right? What are the numbers? 10 and 1. If you subtract the 1 from the 10, then there is the implied number of 9. Out of those numbers, which is the most important in Jesus’ story? The One.
Who were the people involved? First and foremost, there was the woman, right? But then who? Friends and neighbors that she calls to come help her celebrate.
What was lost? A coin. Pretty valuable to the woman, wouldn’t you think? I mean, if it was me, I’d just go to the bank and get another coin. But apparently this was the only money this woman had. The coin was extremely valuable to her.
Think about the dynamics in these two parables. First, let’s talk about The risk that the shepherd took. Apparently he didn’t have anyone else to watch the other 99 sheep so there was the risk that some of them would wander off while he was gone. There was the risk that while he was gone, a wolf would attach the flock and kill some of them. This was a risky move on his part. It’s not that the 99 weren’t important, but it would be worth the risk if he could find The One.
Why would the shepherd take the risk of losing more of his sheep? Well, to be honest, sheep are stupid. They can’t take care of themselves. They are so top heavy, if they stumble and fall, they can’t get up and end up on their backs and suffocate… They’re vulnerable to the attack from predators. But so valuable was the sheep to this shepherd that he had to do what he could to find The One.
Think about his The intentionality. In all likelihood, the shepherd had an idea where The One could be found. The text says that he left the 99 in the open, flat field and we can only assume that he headed to the place or places that were most dangerous to The One.
How dedicated The dedication was he in his search? The Greek language indicates that he keeps going, keeps searching, keeps looking until finally he succeeds in finding The One.
And what does the shepherd do when he finds The One? Does he beat it? Does he scold it? No, he puts it on his shoulders and carries it home. What an endearing picture (pic): a loving shepherd carrying The One home on his shoulders.
What was the reward for his risk, his intentionality, and his dedication? He found the sheep and brought home. It was time to celebrate. The reward for his risk, his intentionality, his dedication was great elation. Why: the One was no longer lost and separated from him.
So then Jesus follows that parable up with another parable about a lost coin.
What was the risk involved with this woman? That’s difficult to assess. It’s not the risk that stands out in this parable, it’s the intentionality and dedication. These 10 coins represent all that she had her life savings. She was all about finding the one that was lost.
In ancient times, houses of the working class normally didn’t have windows. If they did, they would be small slits to let in a little light. Why? First of all, this was before plastics or double pane windows made of glass. Glass was made for small objects that held precious perfumes, and only the wealthy could afford anything like the glass windows we have today. So candles were absolutely necessary to shed any light in the home. All that to say, the house of this woman was pretty dark.
Not only was the normal house dark, but it would also have dirt floors. The dirt would be hard packed because of being walked on all the time. You could actually sweep it. No vacuum cleaners; you used a broom to sweep the dust and dirt that had accumulated in the house. She undoubtedly is intentional about it: she moves any furniture, starts at one end of the house and systematically starts looking for the coin: holding the broom in one hand and sweeping with the other; at times down on her hands and knees. Like the shepherd, she has a high level of dedication to finding what was lost. She keeps sweeping, keeps searching, keeps looking until she finds The One that was lost.
And what does she do when she finds The One? She calls her neighbors and friends together so that they can celebrate together. The reward for all her intentionality and dedication was great elation. Why? The One was no longer lost and separated from her.
These two parables create a kind of a crosshairs, a laser beam right on our chests—specifically, our hearts, don’t they? Jesus is telling them to a group of folks who have lost any sense of burden for people who are lost and separated from the Father. Jesus was all about The One; all about The One who is lost and separated from the Father. That was and is His mission.
For this church, for you, for me to be involved in this mission, there are some costs associated with it.
Think about the risk. Back to the 1st parable: if the 99 sheep could think cognitively, they might be thinking, “What’s really important about The One? We’re all here. We all need protection. We all need to be fed and cared for. sniff sniff. I have needs you know. sniff sniff. What about me? Take care of me, Mr. shepherd!”
“When the mission of the church gets reduced to keeping the sheep in the pen happy, the mission is falling woefully short. I’m sure the ninety-nine sheep in Jesus’ parable believed they deserved the undivided attention and full protection of their shepherd. I can even imagine several of them complaining, ‘What’s the big deal about finding one little lost sheep when there are so many of us right here who need a good meal and a warm place to sleep?’” Mark Middleberg
There is a risk for me as your shepherd that if I try to keep us focused on the mission that some of you will feel overlooked and undervalued and begin to grumble like the Pharisees and scribes did. But that’s a risk I’m willing to take—because if Jesus was all about The One, then so must I be.
There is a risk for you as well. The risk is to get out of your comfort zone and pray that God would burden you and break you over the eternities of those He has placed in your life who are lost and separated. You risk rejection. You risk failure. You risk looking stupid. But my prayer is that it’s a risk you’re willing to take—because if Jesus was all about The One, then so must you be. This is why we’re asking you to step out of your comfort zone and plan a matthew party for superbowl Sunday. Inviting your friends who may be far from God. CARD
“God gets great pleasure from sending His agents on secret reconnaissance missions with personal instructions no one else knows about. He loves to stretch us beyond our comfort zones and challenge us to take risks on the front lines of His kingdom-advancing enterprises.” Bill Hybels
Beyond risk, there is intentionality. Being intentional to reach The One. Praying for God to open your eyes and break your heart. Learning how to share your testimony, your story of God finding you in a way that is winsome and effective. Learning how to field questions of the one who is seeking but is blinded and confused. Charles spurgeon, a great preacher from the 1800s put it bluntly:
“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that. What is the most natural plan to use for the salvation of others but to bear your own personal testimony?” Charles Spurgeon
And then there is dedication. Dedicating not just your time, but your talents and resources. D.L. Moody praying for lost friends. Witnessed to and prayed for two of his best friends for decades, without results. Incredibly, one of the men gave his life to Christ at Moody’s funeral, and the other shortly after.
And then there is the reward: the great elation of being involved in the most important mission on the face of the earth and knowing you had a part in it.
“What’s lost is nothing to what’s found, and all the death that ever was, set next to life, would scarcely fill a cup.” Fredrick Buechner
You know, there’s one more group mentioned in both of the stories that I left out. Who did I miss? v. 7 “I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous people who don’t need repentance.” v.10 “I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
You know who rejoices most of all? Our heavenly Father.
The Father asks: “What will you risk…How intentional will you be…How dedicated will you be—to find The One and celebrate with Me?
