I’ll See You at the Party

Note that the parable comes as a result of the grumbling religious leaders. There were two overlapping groups of sinners (tax collectors and sinners); two overlapping groups of religious people (Pharisees and scribes); and two overlapping reported sins (welcomes sinners and eats with them).

In Kindergarten at a christian school I had a bus driver who, when he let us off, would say, “I’ll see you at the party.” Then one day he was gone and the pastor said “he was not the kind of person we are looking for.”

Ever since then I have wondered what kind of people the church was looking for and are they the same people that Jesus is looking for?

Luke 15:1–7 NIV

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.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. 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.

What does this parable teach us? Who is Jesus looking for?

1. Jesus is looking for people of repentance. v 7a

This repentance is called for by God.

Jesus does not just eat with sinners, he calls them to repentance.

This repentance is caused by God.

Sheep don’t find themselves. Coins don’t jump up on the table.

2. Jesus is looking for people who don’t mind retelling. Chapter 15

Note that the three parables are very close to being the same. God’s grace calls for retelling again and again.

3. Jesus is looking for people of rejoicing. v 7b, 10, 24

The time of the rejoicing: now.

The People of the rejoicing.

Notice who Jesus invites to the party in the earlier chapter of Luke.

Luke 14:13–14 NIV

But when you give a banquet, 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.”

God is that wonderful shepherd who gets more joy out of one found sheep than over the 99 who had the good sense not to get lost in the first place.