Lost and Found

Luke 15:1-32

We’ll pick up today in the book of Luke in chapter 15.  We’re going to go through the whole chapter, all 32 verses.  So, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover.  This passage in Luke includes one of Jesus’ most famous parables, The Prodigal Son.  On the next slide is a painting of the prodigal son returning home.

This may be Jesus’ most famous parable.  The unconditional love and acceptance of the father warms our hearts and gives us hope.  The hardness of the older brother stands out as a stark reminder of what happens to us when we don’t stay close to the father.  Even though we know it well, it is good to read it and meditate on it again.

A couple of weeks ago, two of our children, Joseph and Rebekah, were baptized.  Joseph is nine, and Rebekah is seven almost eight.  We spent nearly the whole day on Saturday talking about and getting ready for the baptism.  That Sunday morning, I told Bob Schmitt how encouraging it was to go over verses about salvation, walking with God and baptism.  I told him it was exciting for me to think on these things and convey them to my children.  Bob then said, “Man, we just need to read the Bible cover to cover every day.  We are so forgetful.”  Amen.  That is so true.  We really need to taste the sweet words of God again and again allowing our minds to be renewed and transformed.  Before we jump into the Word, let’s pray.

Father God, we are all prodigals.  Your Word says that no one is perfect, no not one.  I pray that you would open our hearts and our minds to receive truth from You.  We don’t want to miss what is on your heart because we’ve heard this parable a million times before or because of what happened to us this week, or because of what may have happened to us this morning.  We need You, Father.  Please grant me the words to share what is on Your heart because apart from you I can do nothing.  Amen

Let’s go, Luke 15, verse 1:

Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.  But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” –Luke 15:1-2

According to the Pharisees and “religious self-righteous” people, all the “wrong” people were coming around to hear Jesus.  The Amplified Bible says “notorious and especially wicked sinners.”  It was bad enough that these people were hanging around, but Jesus was welcoming them and eating with them.  Notice, the Pharisees muttered quietly among themselves, but Jesus clearly knew their hearts.

Then Jesus told them this parable:  “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?  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.’ –Luke 15:3-6

Two weeks ago, Carl shared how Jesus answered the Pharisees about whether it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath.  “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?”  It’s just obvious.  Even if a farm animal falls into a well, you will help him out on the Sabbath or any other day.  Likewise, the parable seems obvious.  If one of your sheep goes missing, you’re going to go and look for it.  Because the sheep was lost and presumed to have fallen prey to a wild animal, there is great rejoicing when he is found alive.  Here, the shepherd is so glad, that he calls his friends and neighbors.  Relating this parable to the kingdom of God, Jesus said:

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. –Luke 15:7

What brings joy to God and all of heaven?  One sinner who repents.  How many of us need to repent?  Every single person must repent and accept Jesus individually to get into heaven.  We have all fallen short of the glory of God.  No one is perfect, not one.  If we had any questions about whether we could get into heaven by our own goodness, we need only to look at the Sermon on the Mount.  If we are angry at some one, we are subject to judgment.  If a man looks lustfully at a woman, he is guilty of adultery.  “Unless your righteousness surpasses the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

There are times when Jesus’ parables are veiled or difficult to understand.  Their meaning is not immediately clear to his audience.  (New cloth on an old coat, new wine in old wineskins, the parable of the mustard seed, the parable of the yeast, and the shrewd manager which Carl will explain to us next week)  Jesus said that he spoke in parables to fulfill prophecy from Isaiah, “for this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”  If you don’t see what excites God’s heart from this parable, then Jesus continues with another parable.  We get another chance!

“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?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ “ –Luke 15:8-9

How do you respond when you lose something?  It depends on its value.  I lost a bolt off of my lawnmower a few weeks ago.  Not something you think of as irreplaceable or valuable.  Actually, it was the last time I mowed the grass since it has been so dry.  It was one of the bolts that holds the muffler on.  I could see it coming loose, but I didn’t stop to take it off because I knew it was extremely hot.  I was nearly done cutting the grass, so I thought I could make it.  About the time I finished, I look down and the bolt is gone, nowhere to be seen.  I actually rounded up all the kids and Melissa, and we mounted a search since I knew it was in a relatively small area.  Altogether there are eight of us, so shoulder to shoulder we could cover the area where the bolt must have fallen and then some.  After about four passes, we came up empty.  I told everyone that we didn’t need to look for it anymore and they all started heading off to other things, and I went to see what I could find to put the muffler back on.  I managed to find a bolt that was a little too long, but with nut and a couple of washers, my muffler was as good as new.  Then, I went upstairs and just happened to glance out the front window as I’m walking through the kitchen, and there’s Taryn by herself walking slowly back and forth across the lawn looking for my bolt.  Now, that bolt by itself was not especially valuable, but Taryn knew it was my bolt and I really would like to find it.  So she’s out there scouring the yard in 100 degree heat for what was lost and her father wants to find.

Now that a pretty good parable, let’s think about what our heavenly Father thinks is important and wants found.  What does the Father want found?  The sinner.  Thinking about what the Father wants to find, then we have the chance to go out scouring our neighborhood, our workplace, and the world to find those who are lost.

In the case of the woman in this parable, she loses a silver coin that’s worth a day’s wages for a peasant.  This is very important to the woman, although it is not a large sum of money.  In those times, 200 drachmas was about what you needed for one person to live on.  10 coins would supply her needs for 2 or 3 weeks.  Her method of searching communicates her poverty.  First, she lights a lamp.  Why?  More than likely she lives in a house with no windows.  It is necessary to light a lamp to see by.  Next, she sweeps.  Likely, she has a dirt and rocky floor.  Perhaps she may see or hear the coin by sweeping it with a broom.  Finally, she searches carefully until she can find her lost coin.  Once finding it she rejoices to the point of calling her friends and neighbors.  What relief and happiness she has found.

Likewise, Jesus concludes the parable of the 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.” –Luke 15:10

Just as the silver coin had great value to the woman, so to do tax collectors and “sinners” have great value to God.  So much so that the angels themselves are witnesses to God Himself rejoicing.  There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels.  Who else is rejoicing in the presence of angels but God Himself.  Even though God has limitless power and resources (he owns the cattle on a thousand hills), his joy comes from the return of His lost ones.  Whether we are lost or walking with God, we belong to Him.  We are the sheep of his pasture.

Jesus continued:  –Luke 15:11a

Jesus is not done with this subject just yet.  Repetition is a key means of emphasis in literature and speaking.  It appears that Jesus is giving the Pharisees and teachers of the law every chance to understand.  Not only that, we get the joy of knowing how sought after and precious we sinners are to God.

“There was a man who had two sons.  The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ “ –Luke 15:11b-12a

I know many of you have heard this before, but just stop to think what the younger son is saying.  “Hey Dad, I wish you were dead.  Can you go ahead and give me my share of the inheritance?  I’m gonna blow this joint and see the world.”  I’m pretty sure that I would not grant such a request to my kids, but the father in the parable does just that.

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.” –Luke 15:12b-14

The son has gotten his wish.  He is now independent.  He is the master of his own destiny.  One commentary I read, called the younger son’s desire to be free from all restraint the “sin of sins.”  When Adam took the apple, he set himself up “to be like God.”  When we find ourselves yearning to meet our own needs ahead of the needs of others, when we see our responsibilities as too great or overwhelming, when we want to pull back from God rather than press forward in His will, it is time for a wake up call, a self-check, it is urgent to get time away with God.  If we stick our heads down, we are heading for danger.  All other sin flows out of this desire to be independent of God, the desire to be equal to God or to be our own God.

In his independence from the father, the younger son has gone to a distant country where his family can have no contact with him.  He uses his money foolishly.  This is where the word prodigal comes in.  A prodigal is a recklessly extravagant consumer, and his recklessness leads into poverty.  The onset of the famine catches the younger son unprepared.  Now, he has nothing.  He can’t even meet his basic needs.

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. –Luke 15:15-16

Okay so for a Jew to be feeding pigs, it doesn’t get much worse than that.  Not only that, but to crave the inedible pods is humiliating.  Carl gave a message and shared that these pods were what pigs were fed when there was nothing left to feed them.  The famine was so bad, no one would give him anything.

“When he came to his senses,” –Luke 15:17a

This younger son has hit rock bottom.  There is nowhere left to look but up.  In other translations and in the Greek, it says “when he came to himself.”  This expression was used to describe coming out of a daze or a faint.  It can also describe the recovery of an insane person.  Previously, he was unconscious.  He was so imbedded in his sin and the world that it was like he was insane, completely out of his rational mind.  Until he came to himself, he was unable to find any way out of his destitution and depravity.  Ecclesiastes says, “The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live.”  Yet now in the midst of his humiliation and by God’s grace, he is able to think and reason again.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!’ –Luke 15:17

Here are his first two rational thoughts.  1.  My father’s servants have food to spare.  2.  I am starving to death.  Now, what’s he going to do about it:

‘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 men.’ –Luke 15:18-19

Now he’s got a plan.  He is not arrogant any longer.  He comes to the father with humility.  He has no expectation of blessing.

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. –Luke 15:20

Isn’t it amazing, but the father is watching for his son.  How many times on how many days did he look up to the horizon hoping to see his son return.  Not only that, but he is instantly filled with compassion when he sees his son.  Then he takes off in a run.  I can remember a year or two ago, Taryn and Christina got into a friendly argument about whether or not Daddy’s can run.  There was a time when I would jog a couple of miles 2 or 3 times a week.  I haven’t done that in at least 3 years.  Taryn is eleven.  Christina is now six.  In Christina’s experience, Daddy’s don’t run.  Likewise, the father in this story with two grown sons is not one to break into a sprint.  Can you picture it?  This older man has pulled up his robe and bared his legs and he is barreling down the path.  He grabs his son hugging him and kissing him, rejoicing that his son has come home.  Even thought the son likely is filthy, smells horribly, and doubtless is dressed in rags, the father embraces him without hesitation.

Now, the son launches into his planned speech:

“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 … —Luke 15:21-22a

What was the son’s planned speech?  What’s missing?  He planned to say, “Make me like one of your hired men.”  But before he can get it out, the father said …

‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.’ –Luke 15:22b

The best robe, a ring on his finger, and sandals on his feet.  All these are marks of a son.  Servants didn’t wear sandals; they went barefoot.  A signet ring is a symbol of authority.  The robe, a mark of honor.  Three times the father bestows recognition on the prodigal’s place as his father’s son.  There is no question to anyone who sees the younger son, that he is accepted.

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.  –Luke 15:23-24

The father is rejoicing in the presence of his servants.  Sound familiar?  There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.  Do you feel like you get the picture?  Our heavenly Father is eagerly expecting each one of us to come home.  He is looking for us every day, every hour.  When we do come to him, he is so glad.  He is rejoices over every single person who is saved.

Now, I need some dissonant music.

“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.’ “ –Luke 15:25-27

Understandably, the older son is taken back by a party that he didn’t know about.  Then too, he is shocked to hear of his brother’s unexpected return.  Not to mention the fattened calf.  It’s not fair!

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.  But he answered his father, –Luke 15:28-29a

And all the blackness and pent up frustration comes pouring out.  From Ecclesiastes, “The madness in his heart”

‘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!’ –Luke 15:29b-30

Does the older son get it?  Is this a party for the younger son to celebrate?  Who is the party for?  Isn’t it the father’s party?  Does the younger son even have any friends to celebrate with?  The older brother appears to know something about his younger brother’s condition, so I won’t give him the “I didn’t know” excuse.

” ‘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.’ ” –Luke 15:31-32

Do we get it?  Or are we like the older son?  What brings joy to the Father?  That those who are lost are brought back home.  Why is the younger son lost?  Because he left the father and wasted what was given to him.  How were we lost?  Our sin and our rejection of God made us lost.

What is on the heart of God?

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.’ ” –Luke 15:32

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” –Luke 15:10

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. –Luke 15:7

This is what’s on God’s heart to bring back his lost ones and rejoice in their return.  God wants to be a shepherd to us.  He wants to look over us and protect us.  Let’s look at three more passages that describe the heart of God.

Did you know that King David was called “a man after God’s own heart?”  Why was King David called “a man after God’s own heart?”  One reason must be that David had a shepherd’s heart.

David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear …” –1 Samuel 17:34-36a

David risked his own life to protect the sheep of his father Jesse.  Going so far as to rescue them out of the mouth of lion or bear.

Jesus too has the heart of a shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.  The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. –John 10:11-15

Jesus laid down his life by dying on the cross for our sins.

God the Father also has the heart of a shepherd.

For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.  I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land … I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.  I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak … —Ezekiel 34:11-13a,15-16

It goes on to say God promises to place over them one shepherd, his servant David, his prince.  Who must that be?  Jesus, the good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.  God gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life.

I want to close with a passage from a Charles Spurgeon sermon.  I thought at first, that I might do well to read Spurgeon’s sermon in its entirety rather than prepare one on my own, but I did resist.  The sermon title is simply “Bread Enough And To Spare”

No. 1000, Delivered on Lord's-day Morning, July 16th, 1871, by C. H. SPURGEON, At the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington

"And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!"

They have come from the east and from the west, and they are sitting down with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and there is room enough for you. And beside those in heaven, think of those on earth. Blessed be God, his elect on earth are to be counted by millions, I believe, and the days are coming, brighter days than these, when there shall be multitudes upon multitudes brought to know the Savior, and to rejoice in him. The Father's love is not for a few only, but for an exceeding great company. A number that no man can number will be found in heaven; now, a man can number a very great amount. Set to work your Newtons, your calculators, they can count great numbers, but God and God alone can tell the multitude of his redeemed. Now, sinner, you are but one at any rate, great sinner as you are, and the mercy of God which embraces millions must have room enough in it for you. The sea which holds the whales and creeping things innumerable, do you say, "It will overflow its banks if I bathe therein"?

Do you understand?  There is room for all in the kingdom of God.  Surely the ocean will not overflow if we get in it.

The sun which floods the universe with light, can you see "I should exhaust his beams if I should ask him to enlighten my darkness"

In the same way, if we ask God to light up our darkness, we cannot cause the sun to burn out.

The sea which holds the whales and creeping things innumerable, do you say, "It will overflow its banks if I bathe therein"?  The sun which floods the universe with light, can you see "I should exhaust his beams if I should ask him to enlighten my darkness"  Say not so. If you come to yourself you will not tolerate such a thought, but you will remember with hope the richness of the Father's grace, even though your own poverty stare you in the face.

Let’s pray:

Gracious and merciful Father God.  You are the Great Shepherd.  You have come to seek and save that which was lost.  If anyone here is lost and separated from God, he or she need only repent and turn away from their sin.  Each one must come to their senses.  Then, if they pray to You that Jesus is Lord and believe that You raised Him from the dead, they will be saved.  Praise God.

Lord, for those here who know you, stir our hearts.  Show us Your heart.  May we be excited about what excites You.  Show us how to join in the process of reaching others who are lost.  Open our eyes to the great work that you are doing all over the world.  May Your Name be magnified.  Amen