Luke 15:1-10
Key verses 7,10
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3Then Jesus told them this parable:
4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
People around Jesus (1-3)
There are three groups of people around Jesus.
1. The tax collectors and “sinners”
2. The disciples who follow Jesus
3. The Bible teachers and the Pharisees
1 and 2 are around Jesus to listen to him.
3 are outside and muttering and criticizing Jesus.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." (2)
So Jesus told them three stories.
What do you do when the people mutter? Tell the gospel of Jesus all the more. Gather them and teach them the word of God.
In order to do so, we need
1. Welcome them
2. Eat with them
3. Gather around Jesus and talk about the good news of God.
So these three stories are for you. Some of us are certified sinners. Some are highly devote, hard core Bible believing people. Some are disciples of Jesus.
Today we will look at the first two parables or stories.
1. The parable of the lost sheep teaches us about the good shepherd Jesus.
2. The parable of the lost coin teaches us about the careful and searching Jesus.
Prayer
Open our eyes to see you today. Grant us your grace this morning.
May the word of my mouth and meditation of my heart be pleasing to you. (Psalm 19:14)
in Jesus’ name. Amen
The parable of the lost sheep (4-7)
The good Shepherd.
Ask the audience, tell the story, and briefly summarize the story. Give some background on gazing.
Let’s look at the shepherd. Jesus is the promised shepherd who God sent to his people. (Ez 34, Jer 23, Psalm 23)
We have seen paintings that depict this story. A young, handsome, shepherd carrying a little lamb on his shoulder.
Is this true? No. The text says a fully grown sheep got lost. His average weight is about 200 pounds. The shepherd panicked over his lost sheep because he knows the implication of the lost sheep.
What will happen to this lost one?
Some bad things can happen to them. The sheep do not have much time.
Until he finds it.(4, 9)
Look at the shepherd’s dedication. He goes after this lost one until he find it. Until he finds it. Until he finds it.
Suppose you are lost. Your only hope is to be found by your shepherd. What is your wish? Search for you for 10 hours? 20 hours? No. You do not want him to stop searching for you.
One time my younger sister ran away from home. My father went out to search for her. He cried and cried and cried. He did not stop until he found her. Until he finds it is our hope.
Our God did not give up on us. Jesus came from heaven to earth. To search you and search for me until he finds it.
Joyfully puts on his shoulder
If you find this dumb, stupid, hairy and dirty and hungry sheep who could not move because he is so hungry.
Beat him up? No. He put this heavy sheep weighing 200 pounds on his shoulder and carries him home. You know this shepherd is tired but it does not matter to him. His joy is backbreaking joy.
Rejoice with me (6)
Here the shepherd who found the lost sheep throws a party inviting all his friends and neighbors. He wants to share his joy with his friends.
Jesus welcoming and eating with tax collectors and sinners is like this shepherd rejoicing.
What is our Christian life?
It is rejoicing with Jesus because he welcomes us. We gather together around Jesus. We must rejoice because our good shepherd came to us.
He is persistent, strong and never gives up on us.
He is searching until he finds it.
He wants to share his joy with us.
The parable of one lost coin (8-10)
The careful and searching woman
Jesus as a careful and searching woman.
Jesus is more than persistent and strong shepherd. He is also portrayed as a careful and searching woman. This woman did not panic but systematically searched for the lost coin.
Are you happy that Jesus is like this woman? So gentle and so careful and so searching?
She also does not give up. She searches until she finds it. (9). She also throws a party inviting her friends and neighbors.
Rejoice with me. She wants to share her joy.
Jesus and us
1. Jesus
Jesus is saying in these two stories that he is the good Shepherd. He is persistent and goes after one lost sheep. He is strong yet gentle. He is passionate yet careful.
2. Sheep and coin
We are like sheep. We are dumb, hairy and have a propensity to get lost easily. But we are like a coin. Very valuable because we are made in the image of God. (Gen 1:27) When we look at sinners who got lost, what do you see? You see their dumbness. But we have to see their intrinsic value like a lost coin.
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees could not see this. It is very challenging story for those who are very religious. We must see who we are before God. Dumb yet valuable. If we do not see these two sides of the coin we do not understand Jesus welcoming sinners and eating with them.
Applications
Our anchor verse is John 17:3. Eternal life is to know Jesus. If we know Jesus then we know the Father who sent his son.
1. Those who are lost in sins
We need to gather around Jesus and accept his invitation. Join the party.
2 Those who are super religious
Let’s repent of our preconceived ideas of Jesus. Let’s learn from Jesus how to go after the lost one.
Sometimes we have to go out like the good shepherd.
Sometimes we have to search carefully and systematically and gently. We must learn to do two ways. Each one of them is valuable, who you are going after.
1. Tell two stories.
Summary
These stories will encourage you when you are lost and waiting for the good shepherd.
These stories will challenge you when you are doing well and see those who are struggling and far from the LORD.
Most of all, these stories will introduce who Jesus is and we can put our trust in the good shepherd and careful shepherd Jesus.
Prayer
Dear LORD. We are all lost without you. Help us to confess.
I have strayed like a lost sheep.
Seek your servant,
for I have not forgotten your commands. (Psalm 119:176)
Help us to be found by you and rejoice together with Jesus.
I pray in your Son’s name. Amen.