Finding the Lost: A Pursuing God (Luke 15:1-10)
As disciples, we need to recognize that following Jesus is a big step. It is grace freely offered, but it will cost us everything. What does all this look like from the other perspective, Gid’s perspective? God is pursuing us as someone after something tremendously valuable, as a father pursuing his children.
Luke records three stories that Jesus told to show us this. They were prompted by the complaints of a religious man who thought Jesus was wrong to spend His time with sinners.
The Lost Sheep 15:1-7
In the context of the complaint, this story has an interesting element. The shepherd leaves the 99 non-lost sheep behind to look for the missing lamb. This is not a story about a lack of concern for the 99. It is highlighting the love for the lost without diminishing the love for the safe. The shepherd would be wrong to say, “I still have 99 of my 100 sheep. I will stay in the sheep pen with the herd and enjoy their company.” Jesus was not interested in hanging out with outwardly religious people. Notice, however, that He did spend time with the disciples. Or, better, they spent time with Him as He was on His mission. The condition of the complaining religious leaders was not really “found.” Jesus loves all His people, even those who are currently far from Him. He seeks. He pursues.
The Lost Coin 15:8-10
Jesus’s second story is less referenced than the other two. It is also the one that does not involve a contrast between lost and saved. There is not a bag of coins from which one is missing. The focus in this story is the great effort that the woman puts into finding this relatively small amount of money, and the joy resulting from its recovery. God is not just seeking the lost. He is making an effort to rescue them. Jesus was/is doing the same. As His followers, we should be too. We are not to spend all of our time together enjoying fellowship with each other and God. We need to make an effort to find the lost.
The third story goes even further…
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