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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)
21. Parables About the Love of God Which Seeks our Sinners (Luke 15:1-32)
LUKE 15:01-10
1 Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear Him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 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. 8 Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
God seeks man, why? Because he loves him. Is man righteous and precious that God may benefit from him? No, on the contrary, man is devious, disobedient, corrupt, not seeking God, but running away from him. Then is not necessary for the holiness of God to punish the sinner and consume him? Yes, it is. But God is love, and he tries with great patience to save those who are going astray. He does not consume us immediately, nor does he refuse us entirely, but calls us, seeks us, works to find each lost one.
The teachers of the Old Testament did not understand this deep principle of the love of God, and thought on the contrary that man should seek God to please him. Thus they studied the law, kept their customs strictly, hardened their hearts toward sinners, rejected the mobs and made themselves blind to the love of God. They did not understand that the Holy One is the loving Father who longs for his straying children, does everything to bring them back, and strives to save them while there is time.
This is why Jesus left heaven, not to seek the good and the godly, but to look for the evil and bring them back. In his following parables, Christ explains this movement of God’s love:
A shepherd had one hundred sheep. They were all obedient, following him with their meek bleat. One evening, he counted them and found that one was lost. He immediately knew which one was lost, for a good shepherd knows every sheep by name. The “obstinate one” had fled once again, thinking that its master did not lead him beside green pastures and still waters. It wanted to search for the mysteries of life by itself, and to enjoy himself away from observation. Due to its lack of experience, the sheep lost its way in the wilderness, and fell down into a pit. Except for a bramble bush it would have fallen on the rocks and died. But it clung to the branches over the open-mouthed pit, heard the howling of wolves and jackals, and felt frightened of the danger, for it was away from the flock. Now it was unable to return, for it became entangled, a prisoner of the thorn bush. Darkness came down on the helpless sheep. It cried in fear, but heard nothing except the resounding echo of its cry.
After some time, the sheep listened attentively. He heard a soft and gentle voice calling him from afar, and immediately recognized the voice of the good shepherd calling the lost sheep by name. The sheep which was trapped among thorns, answered him with all its strength, “Help! Help! I am here, lost, hopeless, and evil. Please save me, and forgive my obstinacy.” The good shepherd went down into the pit, and drew the lost sheep to him. Finally, he lifted the lost sheep up, laid it on his shoulders, and went back to the fold, exhausted by the hard rescue-work and the long distance. However he rejoiced, in spite of his fatigue, for he had found the obstinate lost one and saved it.
As such, Jesus seeks you my dear brother, fleeing in obstinacy from God, trapped among the thorns of sin, hanging over the pit of destruction, with wolves howling around you in the deep-black night. Do you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and cry out to him, “Save me O Lord”? Lift up your heart to your Savior, for his help is near. He shed his blood to redeem you, and is not ashamed to make every effort to save you. Commit your life into his hand that he may lift you, bear you on his shoulders in the midst of the night of our world, and carry you back to his fellowship. Are you prospering in Christ, or lost in the world? Be aware that God, heaven, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the church on earth, and angels rejoice and leap for joy because of your return. But if you remain obstinately away from your Lord, there would be great sorrow.
In the second parable Jesus shows us the value of the lost person, through the diligence of the woman who turned her house upside down to find a lost coin. She swept and searched in pockets and corners all day long, until she found the lost coin. Be sure, dear brother, that God searches for you even if you do not seek him. Christ shows us the love of God who came to seek and save you lost one. Understand that God’s work is not motivated by your good deeds, or your resounding prayers; nor do your boastful intentions establish your salvation. The joy of God is the reason for your salvation. The Eternal One spares no effort to make transient mortal man eternal, as he is. You do not seek your Lord, but he searches for you. Yet when your will comes in harmony with God’s will, and the prayer of your heart becomes an echo of his call, joy fills heaven and earth. This joy is greater than all the joy known to men. Enter into the joy of your Lord who wishes to make his joy perfect in us.
PRAYER: O good Lord, I am not worthy that you should search for me, but your love is greater than my sins, and your patience is stronger than my obstinacy. Forgive me when I turn away from you, and take me back into your fellowship. Seek my friends and co-workers, and draw them to yourself, that they may enter your joy with us. We give thanks for your great love, for your help is always near.
QUESTION 100: What is the mystery of salvation?