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Rejoice When the Lost Are Found!

Luke dedicates chapter 15 to remind us that we should rejoice when the lost are found! Three examples are provided: 1) lost sheep, 2) lost coin and 3) lost son.

1. The Lost Sheep. Sheep are certainly important to the shepherd and losing even one might be grounds for losing his job! Jesus uses this common knowledge to emphasize the importance of seeking and finding the lost. In this example, Jesus concludes:

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.

2. The Lost Coin. For those who have lost something important to them, a physical “thing” such as a precious coin, or perhaps you misplaced a ring or cell phone! When you finally find the thing, you want to celebrate with your friends. It is good to proclaim, “Rejoice with me.” Two great examples of why we should rejoice as a family of faith.

3. The Lost Son (the Prodigal Son). This famous story is one of the most memorable from my childhood since I have an older brother. Not that we acted like the characters in the story, it just got my attention. Here we find more details in the narrative, but the end result is the same: the lost are found.

Two lessons: 1) seek the lost and 2) rejoice when they are found!

Lord help us to have eyes for the lost in our world and teach us to celebrate, to rejoice with the angels, when one is found. One by one you will transform the world.

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 15

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Cost of Being a Disciple

One of my favorite songs from Hillsong is Devotion, I sing this song nearly everyday. The bridge simply repeats: “I will take up my cross and follow you wherever you lead me.” Jesus makes it pretty clear in this passage,

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Jesus provides some examples:

  1. If you want to build a tower, you estimate the costs before laying the foundation; otherwise, you will hear: “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”
  2. Going into battle, first compare your forces with that of the opposing army. If it looks like sure defeat, time to send a delegation and work out a compromise!
  3. Salt is only good when it is salty!

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s, The Cost of Discipleship, provides much to consider with this as a framework. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, “It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.”

It’s time to let go of this world and grab onto that which is eternal!

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 14:25-35

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Parable of the Great Banquet

This passage in Luke appears during the meal at the “prominent Pharisee’s” house, apparently a theme Jesus taught on more than once. In Luke one of those in attendance, perhaps a Pharisee, says:

Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.

Jesus affirms this and tells a story about those who are just too preoccupied with busyness to come when called. Ouch! Those who are specifically invited, but made excuses why they couldn’t attend, so the master invites others in an effort to fill the banquet hall.

I tell you , not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.

Have we heard the invitation and been too busy to answer?

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 14:15-24

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Jesus at a Pharisee’s House

Here is another miracle that was 1) performed on the Sabbath and 2) for someone who didn’t apparently ask (not that he wasn’t thankful), repent or confess Jesus as Lord. To add to the interest of this particular interaction, this was in front of a prominent Pharisee and his compatriots who “remained silent” and “had nothing to say!”

Jesus explains to the guests that are gathering and clamoring to sit closest to the Pharisee of Honor that this behavior is unnecessary and even humiliating. And to the host, the one I call the Pharisee of Honor, Jesus tells him not to invite those who can return the favor, but rather

invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Packed with lessons in these few verses, Luke gives us a lot to consider!

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 14:1-14

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem

Some Pharisees appear to help Jesus by letting him know that Herod is seeking to kill him–just a ruse in an attempt to get him to leave the area. Jesus’ response: “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people…'” lets them know he knows exactly what they are thinking and it is unlikely that they are part of Herod’s inner circle!

Jesus goes on to lament for Jerusalem, “…how often I have longed to gather your children together…Look, your house is left to you desolate.” (see also Matthew 23:37-39.) We have some understanding of these words because we have the advantage of hindsight, the perspective that history allows us to have. At the time, Luke would not have known about the complete destruction of the temple that would come in the near future, but here we hear the words of Jesus, sad about what is to come.

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 13:31-35

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Question about salvation and entering the kingdom

The Narrow Door…the hard choice. Jesus preached that we should consider taking the road less traveled, the path that is perhaps the least favorite. The people asked, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” They go the sense that this wasn’t going to be easy and Jesus doesn’t hold back and give an easy answer–something we like to do in this culture–he tells them plainly, “many will try to enter and will not be able to.” This is a passage worth reading a few times.

Bible Gateway Links:

Luke 13:22-30

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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From Jerusalem to Perea

Just three short verses that assume you’ve been reading the narrative. There is a very special relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist; here Jesus visits the place where he preached about the coming Messiah and baptized many. In this place, many came to know Christ.

Bible Gateway Links:

John 10:40-42

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

During the Festival of Dedication, in the winter, the Jews ask Jesus to tell them directly in order to provoke others to action. They want Jesus to say that which would give them reason for stone him, “but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?'”

We are reminded that Jesus is the Good Shepherd and the sheep hear his voice, “no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Although the Jews want the Messiah to come, they want him to come on their terms and on their side. Jesus is obedient to the Father, not man.

And again he escaped their grasp.

Bible Gateway Links:

John 10:22-39

Commentary Links at BibleHub.com:

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Woman healed on the Sabbath

Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath and upsets the synagogue leader. There seems to be no surprise that Jesus could effect the healing of this woman, only that it was done on the Sabbath. The leader actually suggests anyone who wants to be healed should come back on a day other than the Sabbath. Jesus immediately responds to reveal his hypocrisy. Here’s the cool part in verse 17: “all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.”

Luke 13:10-17
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