Luke 15:1–32

Family Bible Study
University Relations, Samford University; Southwestern Seminary graduate

Celebrate When People Come to Christ
Luke 15:1–32
She was British by birth and citizenship, but she married a man from China, a native Chinese. When she took her children to the church near her home to worship God and to study the Christian faith, it was obvious that she was the mother of mixed-race children. After a few weeks of attending the local church, its pastor paid her a visit. In much discomfort and anguish of heart, the minister passed on to the mother what he had been instructed to communicate, “Your presence with your children in the church is proving disruptive. I’ve come to ask that you not return.” Through deep hurt and recoil, the mother pleaded, “If we cannot come to the church to find God, where can we go?”

Luke faithfully records the response of the religious leaders of Judaism when the “tax-collectors and sinners” came to Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes grumbled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” The question remains after these many centuries, “How should a person be received into a community of Christians?” In three parables, Jesus gives us clues, if not instructions, regarding how all people are esteemed by God and should be received by Christians.

In His parables, Jesus seems to always find a way to situate the story to connect with the common-sense response to a situation in life. Who wouldn’t leave 99 sheep safely in open pasture to hunt the one lost sheep in danger of harm or death? Or what woman wouldn’t search her home, high and low and its every corner and crevice, to find that one missing silver coin? Who would not grieve the pursuits of a wayward child, watching intently for his or her return? With these three stories culminating in the expression of great joy and celebration, Jesus invites all Christians to live so closely with God and to cooperate with Him so intensely in reaching lost sinners that when one sinner is found or returns home, the joy experienced in heaven cascades into the earthly fellowship of Christians.

When we see and value human life as God values it, we can more easily enter into the joy of salvation, which God freely gives to any and all who repent. The story of the single lost sheep speaks of the danger and destruction that threatens lives when they are lost from God in the world. Every person’s life is valuable to God; no human being is expendable. The silver coin probably had fallen from the jewelry piece of 10 coins worn in the woman’s hair and draped upon her forehead on her wedding day. In addition to its intrinsic worth, the coin carried treasured memories.

In these two parables, God is portrayed as initiating the search that results in the lost items being found. What a radical and empowering truth — God searches with purpose, even with urgency, to find people from all walks of life, in all manner of sinful circumstances until He finds them. What more do Christians need for joy and celebration than to be in partnership with God in searching for and reclaiming lost human lives?

The parable of the lost son — or, as it is often called, “the lost sons” — presents a new factor in the search for lost human beings ­— the personal autonomy and self-determination of every person. The younger son demands his inheritance and then promptly bolts from home in search of the “good and glamorous life.” In all reality, the father can only wait, hope, pray and watch for his son to return.Possibly the most joyous scene in all the Bible plays out as the waiting father runs to his son, embraces and kisses him and declares a time of joyous celebration. The story, however, cannot close until the punch line is delivered. The older dutiful, loyal son inquires about the sounds of celebrations coming from his home and then strongly resists participating with it in any way. His father comes out to entreat him, “ … Your brother who was dead, now lives, you must come to join the party!”

The choice is ours. Will we regard all people as God regards them? Then when they are drawn by His compassion into our Christian fellowship, will we receive them joyously?  Or will we join the Pharisees and grumble in disgust, “Jesus receives sinners and eats with them”?