Day 31: Luke 15

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I 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.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Once again, we find Jesus teaching as the religious insiders - the Pharisees and the teachers of the law - stand in judgment while the religious outsiders - the tax collectors and sinners - draw near. Aware of the grumbling of the Pharisees, Jesus told the gathered crowd two parables. The lost-and-found stories reveal Jesus’ all-consuming passion for lost people, the extreme lengths to which he will go in order to find them, and the rejoicing that takes place when they are found. 

At one point, we were all religious outsiders, lost and in need of a Savior. To what lengths has Jesus gone to pursue you and to show you his love? 

Take in that picture of heavenly celebration that erupted when you turned to Jesus for grace and mercy.

The Scripture continues…

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

The father had every right to disown the younger son, but instead he scanned the horizon for him, longing for him to return home. And when his son returned, the father ran to him and threw a huge celebration. His son was home, the lost was found, there was much rejoicing.

BUT

The older son, who had always had access to his father, missed his place of privilege. He was also lost. Just as he had with his younger son, the father went out to his older son, to bring him inside, to rejoice over him, if only he would accept it. 

The younger son understood his sinfulness and need for forgiveness. He thought he was outside his father’s favor, but he soon realized he was wrong.

The older son thought he was righteous and didn’t understand his need for forgiveness, so he missed his father’s favor and remained outside.

When have you, like the younger son, realized your impoverished state and desperate need for forgiveness? 

When have you been more like the older brother, failing to enjoy the blessings of being God’s son or daughter?

Regardless of where you are or what you have done, God refuses to reduce you to a servant; you are his beloved child. Thank God for his relentless pursuit of you, and step inside and rejoice with him this day.