Lost, Found, Rejoicing

September 15, 2013


GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 15:1–10 [Joy over one restored sheep]
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
“Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
P: This is the Gospel of our Lord.

When I read a novel or a story, I find that I become one of the characters in that story. I become the main character or the hero who solves the mystery and saves the day! When I read the stories in the Bible, I relate with Moses and David and feel their problems and pains as they lead God’s people. However, I never feel like I am Jesus, and I cannot imagine the pain and suffering of the cross, but I can relate with Peter and the disciples who fear for their own lives, and then rejoice when Jesus rises from the dead.

When I read the parables of Jesus, it is really funny. Sometimes I relate to one of the characters, and sometimes I relate to a different character in the same parable. It depends on how my life is going and so the Bible can speak to me in different ways at different times. I think this is a very good thing.

For example, in today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus tells two parables that have the same meaning. The parables tell us to rejoice with the angels who rejoice when a sinner repents and returns to Jesus. But as we read today’s parable, whom do you imagine yourself to be?

 Maybe you are: ….

 One of the grumbling and murmuring Pharisees and scribes who say “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

 One of the 99 sheep who are safe. You are in church this morning, you are safe in your salvation. You may be worried about your brother or sister sheep who is lost, but perhaps on the other hand you do not care about the 1% who wandered off by his or her own foolishness.

 The lost sheep. It could be that you do not know you are lost, you do not know that someone is searching for you, and you are enjoying your freedom. Or it could be that you are worried and panicking. Perhaps you feel your sin and guilt and unfaithfulness. Perhaps you are repenting and want to return, but you need the shepherd. You need Jesus or his shepherd to bring you home.

 The shepherd. The word “pastor” means “shepherd,” but the pasture land is wide. Sometimes a search party is necessary and so all believers are enlisted in the search for the lost. In the parable when the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. Have you ever had the joy of finding a lost person and bringing them back to Christ?

 One of the friends or neighbors of the shepherd who rejoice with him, for the sheep which was lost has been found. I think that this is where Jesus wants us to be, rejoicing with the angels in heaven.

 Perhaps you are:

 One of the 9 coins safely in the coin purse.

 The lost coin. In our affluent society, your mutual funds might easily lose 10% in a month, and perhaps gain it back the next month. Who cares about the lost coin? Who cares whether you are lost or not? Who cares whether I am lost or not? Do you ever have that feeling? So many people in our world feel lost. So many people have given up hope. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt hopeless? At least a lost sheep has legs and so can walk around and try to find their way home. A coin has no legs and so cannot raise itself up and roll around. It is praying that someone, anyone will have enough love or concern to look for it.

 The woman. She knows the value of her coin. She knows the value of other people. She knows the dignity of all people. It is great to be like her!

 The lamp or the broom. The whole church gets involved in evangelism. Our job might seem small, but it is necessary. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” He never said, “You are the broom of the world,” but our job is cleaning. That is what the forgiveness of sins, baptism and the Lord’s Supper are all about. That is the work of the Holy Spirit, to cleanse us and make us holy.

 The woman’s friends and neighbors. We are all happy for the woman and rejoice with her.

 One of the angels in heaven who rejoice over one sinner who repents.

In summary:

There are many people in the world who for various reasons have wandered out of the church. These folks are by definition “lost” to Jesus Christ. The old Pharisees of Jesus’ day would have called them “tax collectors and sinners,” the modern Pharisees of the church have other names for people whose life styles and life choices are outside the norm. These people are not just the millions of people who have not been told the Gospel story, but it includes people who have left the church.

One of the biggest problems is that those who are lost do not realize they are lost. Rather than Jesus Christ, they have made other things their “gods,” have made other things their goals in life, their reason for living. And so they do not know the true and ultimate meaning of life. They do not have a life that is grounded in Christ, and so they have no Christian love, joy, contentment, confidence, hope and promise of eternal life.

A helpless sheep lost by itself in the wilderness will die or be killed, lost in death. They do not have the abundant life in Christ here and now, and will die hopeless, eternally separated from Christ.

Jesus came to save the lost. John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 1 Timothy 1:15 proclaims, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (Today’s Epistle lesson.)

Those who are lost are in hell. But Jesus died on the cross. As the Apostles Creed says, Jesus “descended into hell” in order to find the lost and lead them home. He died and rose again so that all who are lost in sin and death may be found and given new life everlasting. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That was his mission—and it still is! Jesus Christ—through his body the Church—is still seeking and saving the lost.

One of the ways Jesus is still at work seeking and saving the lost is through Word and sacrament. Lost sheep and coins do not repent and return on their　own. They are found. Thus it is that the faithful people of God in Christ Jesus are intentional about going out into their communities and inviting the lost sinners to “come and see” Jesus and dine with him. Yes, as the Pharisees and scribes said, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” In this encounter the “lost” become aware for the first time of how fully they have been lost in the wilderness of sin. Jesus finds them, he rescues them, and restores them through faith. In faith, hopelessness becomes hope; fear becomes joy, and meaningless becomes a life with purpose. This is grounded in the promises of Christ.

This is why the angels of heaven rejoice. We too rejoice when a sinner is restored to the community of Christ. That sinner may be a brother, a friend, or even ourself! It is a celebration of salvation!

Amen.

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church


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