The Luke 15 parable of being lost

by K. Olsen

 

The Context of criticism that Jesus associated with sinners and tax-collectors, and criticism by those who downgraded the Son of God to "this man".

 

The 3 stories which Jesus then shares are all part of one whole – a parable about being lost.

The first is about lost sheep: dumb (ever seen a trained sheep?), defenceless,

Second is lost silver: worthless (because it is not in the treasury), in the dirt and darkness: Jesus & Zacheus: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and save the thing which was lost.” Luke 19:10

Third is lost son: depraved, distant and who landed in a far country by purposely leaving his father's house.

God’s triune nature shown in the parable (with 3 parts). The Redeeming nature of the Shepherd going out to seek the one in 99. Christ, the Son of God, coming into our lost world to find us, and with the silver, down in the darkness and dust. The Revealing Nature of God the Holy Spirit as the lamp and the broom in the lost silver parable is the “Divine Illuminator” and “Divine Disturber”. The Receiving nature is that of God the Father receiving the lost son.

 

Once there was a widow and her son who lived in an attic, in terrible poverty. The widow had run away from home to marry a man who took her to a foreign country. He proved irresponsible and unfaithful and when he died, he left his wife and little son penniless. The happiest times in the little boy’s life were when his mother would tell him all about his grandfather’s home and everything that she had once enjoyed. One day the postman knocked on the attic door, and handed the widow a letter. She recognized the handwriting and trembling, opened the envelope. Inside was a cheque and a note with two words on it: COME HOME.

 

Story of girl in Brazil:

A certain girl in South America, Brazil, grew up in a very poor single parent family – just her mother. She often said: "if I am old enough I’m going to leave home". When she was 18 she went to the city. The mother knew that the only place where she’d get a job (because she was pretty) would be in a brothel. Easiest way to get money. She cried bitterly when the daugher left and prayed for a long time. After some years she felt she must do something about it. Had just a small ID photo of daughter and made many Photostat copies. On it she wrote: If you recognize this photo, and want to come back, know that your mother is waiting for you and will welcome you back with open arms. She went to night clubs and brothels in the city and in the toilets would stick up advert. The daughter, in the meantime was at an end of herself, didn’t know how to return home because she was so ashamed of the life she’d lived. Saw the advert and went home to her welcoming mother.

 

Make your choice. The Father awaits you. The Son has come to "seek and save that which was lost." The Holy Spirit convicts you. Respond to Him and say "yes".

 

(with grateful acknowledgement for some points from a sermon by Dr Adrian Rogers)