"Lost" - The Eternal Episodes

Luke 15:1-10

The "Lost" series has been very popular the past few years as one of the most interesting of the reality TV productions. But I would suggest that the three "lost" parables ("The Lost Sheep", "The Lost Coin," and "The Lost Son") have much more to say. This blog entry will cover only the first two of the parables, though you could certainly read the third on your own. But before we jump into the parables, it is crucially important that we read the setting

,"Now the tax collectors and 'sinners' were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'"

To be with Jesus in ministry is not where its safe, neat or necessarily good for your reputation.

The Lost Sheep (15:1-7)
One of my grandmother's favorite hymns was "The Ninety and Nine" by Ira D. Sankey (it's in the Cokesbury hymnal). When she was sick I sent her a tape of me singing it. It would be best to combine this with Jesus' discussion of "The Good Shepherd" in John 10. A good shepherd literally slept at night at the gate of the fold, so that he could be startled by sheep (who were quite prone to wander) or by predators (animals or humans). A good shepherd did at times give his life for his sheep. This parable has been often misunderstood, that it describes the responsiblity of the pastor or lay person in ministry to please all the members and never lose a one. The sheep here do not represent the church members, but rather represent all people. There are many who are outside the walls of the church who are lost and need God's love. The priority of the shepherd is reaching the lost. The priority of heaven is seeing the lost come to faith in Christ. That is also to be the priority of the Church.

Notice the celebration that happens when the lost sheep is found. Shepherds did that when they found a lost sheep. They threw a party and invited others to join in. Why don't we throw a party when someone comes to faith in Jesus Christ? Heaven does. Why is receiving someone into the church just an empty formality? God doesn't think so. Is it because we're not sure that coming to faith in Jesus Christ is that big a deal?

The Lost Coin (15:8-10)
The coin here lost might have been a major part of a lifetime of savings. When you are poverty stricken, even losing a little is huge. Again, a party is thrown and again a heavenly celebration joins when a sinner turns to Christ. The word "repent" in these two stories is a military term. It literally means "to do an about face." Have we lost the vision of what a transformed life can be like, when someone changes their negative and selfish direction in life and becomes new (new life, new direction, new hope)? I fear we have.

In closing, I invite you to notice that we cannot win the lost if we are not in relationship with those who are lost. Most churches choose to assoicate mainly with those they already know and play it safe, never really getting involved with the brokenness of "sinners." Can we do that and honestly say we are followers of Jesus?