God in Search of us

I was once in Israel on a tour there and was also one of the designated drivers. I was following the Pastor under whom I was doing an internship. The sun had set there was no gps back then and all of a sudden, his car turned into some side street and I did not have time to react. Lost in a foreign country with only a small idea of where to go. With my passengers in the car and pounding hearts we tried to make our way to the street where the car turned into and then attempt to try and find the rest of our group. I guess because I am standing in front of you today means that we found the other car. But while we were lost it was not pleasant at all. We had no idea even where the hotel was either.

But we can be lost in life. Turning this way and that way and never finding a way back to some sort of normality. Lost in a job, family, town, finances, health, believe in God that He is what He says and that He really matters. Could it be possible that we could be lost in our comfort of what we believe? As Jesus came to seek and save the lost, I believe that He has come to save all of out of our state and lives that we are in. puts it this way 9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; ogether they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” Because of this Jesus has come in search of all of us and He shows this in a series of parables found in .

Can you imagine if some people in the crowed started talking out loud criticizing this woman as she went in search of her child. That would be absolutely absurd. But this was the mind set of those that were there as Jesus was speaking. The Pharisees and Scribes were in the crowd as people from all walks of life came to hear what Jesus had to say. The Pharisees were concerned with ritual purity and wanted to enforce this purity on the general public. The Scribes were teachers and interpreters of the oral law. The Scribes were the ones that were critical members of the audiences when Jesus spoke and were the ones that would accuse Him of violating the law. One of the big things they disapproved of was Jesus mingling with the out casts of society.

Can you imagine if some people in the crowed started talking out loud criticizing this woman as she went in search of her child. That would be absolutely absurd. But, this was the mind set of those that were there as Jesus was speaking. The Pharisees and scribes were in the crowd as people from all walks of life came to hear what Jesus had to say. The Pharisees were concerned with ritual purity and wanted to enforce this purity on the general public. The scribes were teaches and interpreters of the oral law. The scribes were the ones that were critical members of the audiences when Jesus spoke and were the ones that would accuse Him of violating the law. One of the big things they disapproved of was Jesus mingling with the out casts of society.

The Pharisees and scribes were in the crowd as people from all walks of life came to hear what Jesus had to say. The Pharisees were concerned with ritual purity and wanted to enforce this purity on the general public. The scribes were teachers and interpreters of the oral law. The scribes were the ones that were critical members of the audiences when Jesus spoke and were the ones that would accuse Him of violating the law. One of the big things they disapproved of was Jesus mingling with the out casts of society. The scriptures tell us that they were grumbling to each other. Can you imagine what they might have been grumbling about?

There are those who are considered out casts, and there is no hope for them. Then there is the group who feel they are better than the rest, so much so that if they had to associate with the unclean, they would be impure. This is the mix of people that Jesus is talking to. I am sure that Jesus was aware of what was going on in their minds and in His response He tells them a parable. He tells them something that they can all relate to. Those who were rich would have had sheep of their own and those that were shepherds would have known the importance of going to find the sheep that was lost. There would also have been people there that knew what it was like to lose one coin. It was the value of one day’s wage. Today the equivalent would be about $100. That is not much but what if you had to lose all the money that you worked for that day knowing that, that money would be sufficient to feed your family. Most of these people would struggle to make ends meet so to lose a coin of this value was a huge thing.

Jesus continues to develop this plot in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and Scribes. Just a note about this grumbling that was going on. The Pharisees and Scribes were disappointed in Jesus. Why would He associate with the sinful and vile they would think? It was as if Jesus unaware of their sinfulness wickedness. They realized that Jesus’ character was pure so why would He mingle with the impure. Why would He be in agreement with these sinners, why would He relate to them? Why would He work for all classes of society? If He a true prophet, He would not associate with the low life.

Jesus continues to develop this plot in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and Scribes. Just a note about this grumbling that was going on. The Pharisees and Scribes were disappointed in Jesus. Why would He associate with the sinful and vile they would think. It was as if Jesus unaware of their sinfulness wickedness. They realized that Jesus’ character was pure so why would He mingle with the impure. Why would He be in agreement with these sinners, why would He relate to them? Why would He work for all classes of society? If He a true prophet He would not associate with the low life.

Jesus continues to develop this plot in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and Scribes. Just a note about this grumbling that was going on. The Pharisees and Scribes were disappointed in Jesus. Why would He associate with the sinful and vile they would think? It was as if Jesus was unaware of their sinfulness wickedness. They realized that Jesus’ character was pure so why would He mingle with the impure. Why would He be in agreement with these sinners, why would He relate to them? Why would He work for all classes of society? If He a true prophet, He would not associate with the low life. The action of Jesus angered those who believed they were guarding society.

The action of Jesus angered those who believed they were guarding society.

Jesus was speaking that day to all the groups that were there that day. Jesus came to search for all His children even those who opposed Him and eventually would have Him killed. When Jesus gets to the story of the Prodigal son, yes, He points to the joy of the father as the son returns but He also mentions the unhappiness of the son who remained at home suggesting that those who were in the presence of God namely the religious leaders were just as lost as those who they despised. Jesus is trying to point out to them that all the groups present there and today are lost. He is telling these parables from His perspective. He is saying that I am the one that has come in search of you.

I am the one that will pick you up and carry you on my shoulders to the safety of the fold. Jesus was trying to get them and us to see that we are of the greatest value to Him. The shepherd going out into the dangerous wilderness to find the lost sheep. Searching into the darkness when the predators come out and where the walking in the ravines and canyons is perilous. All to go and find a sheep that cannot save itself.

I am the one one that will pick you up and carry you on my shoulders to the safety of the fold. Jesus was trying to get them and us to see that we are of the greatest value to Him. the shepherd going out into the dangerous wilderness to find the lost sheep. Searching into the darkness when the predators come out out and where the walking in the ravines and canyons is perilous. All to go and find a sheep that cannot save its self.

I am the one that will pick you up and carry you on my shoulders to the safety of the fold. Jesus was trying to get them and us to see that we are of the greatest value to Him. the shepherd going out into the dangerous wilderness to find the lost sheep. Searching into the darkness when the predators come out and where the walking in the ravines and canyons is perilous. All to go and find a sheep that cannot save itself.

Jesus was reaching out all there that day. Whether they were the prodigal son, or the one that stayed with the father. Both were in need of being saved. The sheep was in the wilderness and knew it was lost but could not do anything to get saved. The coin was in the house, maybe we could say it was with the father or in church, but it was lost and did not know it.

In all three these stories there is something that is lost. Something that needs to be found, or saved. The interesting thing of apolesas or lost in these stories does not mean to loose something per-se, like the last has lost it flavour. Apolesas in these stories and in the Scripture reading means to be lost, to perish, to be killed, to destroy. Jesus is saying that all are apolesas, lost to sin. Going to die because of sin. So the Shepherd, Jesus goes and seeks out all the lost and gives them the choice to choose Him. As with the lamb being carried on the shoulders of the shepherd so the light that was lit to lighten the room points to the Divine source of help that saves us. says, When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness.

In all three these stories there is something that is lost. Something that needs to be found or saved. The interesting thing of apolesas or lost in these stories does not mean to lose something per-se, like the last has lost it flavor. Apolesas in these stories and in the Scripture, reading means to be lost, to perish, to be killed, to destroy. Jesus is saying that all are apolesas, lost to sin. Going to die because of sin. So, the Shepherd, Jesus goes and seeks out all the lost and gives them the choice to choose Him. As with the lamb being carried on the shoulders of the shepherd so the light that was lit to lighten the room points to the Divine source of help that saves us. says, When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness.

In all three these stories there is something that is lost. Something that needs to be found, or saved. The interesting thing of apolesas or lost in these stories does not mean to loose something per-se, like the last has lost it flavour. Apolesas in these stories and in the Scripture reading means to be lost, to perish, to be killed, to destroy. Jesus is saying that all are apolesas, lost to sin. Going to die because of sin. So the Shepherd, Jesus goes and seeks out all the lost and gives them the choice to choose Him. As with the lamb being carried on the shoulders of the shepherd so the light that was lit to lighten the room points to the Divine source of help that saves us. says, When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness.

It is the same as the father putting the best robe on his son. This robe refers to the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives. Here Jesus states that His robe is of greater value than the robes of the Pharisees and Scribes which were to attest to their higher status and moral purity. The father also places a signet ring on the son finger and shoes one his feet. These actions depict the restoration of the son. The signet ring is a sign of ownership because in the ring would be the seal of the father. The sandals are interesting as we would just think that the father is dressing the son, but this is not the case. The putting on of a sandal goes back to the Old Testament times and the book of Ruth allows us to see the significance Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi.

It is the same as the father putting the best robe on his son that has returned and the signet ring on the finger and shoes one his feet. These actions depict the restoration of the son. The signet ring is a sign of ownership because in the ring would be the seal of the father. The sandals are interesting as we would just think that the father is dressing the son but this is not the case. The putting on of a sandal goes back to the Old Testament times and the book of Ruth allows us to see the significance Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi.

When His lamp shone upon my head, and when by His light I walked through darkness

Jesus points out that the son is His. Legally, covenantally he has been restored into his family. We experience the good news of the Gospel when we see that Jesus has come in search of us. It is then that we are clothed with His garments of righteousness, and we wear the ring signifying that we are His, and the shoes they affirm legally that we belong to Jesus.

It is the same as the father putting the best robe on his son that has returned and the signet ring on the finger and shoes one his feet. These actions depict the restoration of the son. The signet ring is a sign of ownership because in the ring would be the seal of the father. The sandals are interesting as we would just think that the father is dressing the son but this is not the case. The putting on of a sandal goes back to the Old Testament times and the book of Ruth allows us to see the significance Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi.

And when by His light I walked through darkness

Jesus points out that the son is His. Legally, covenantally he has been restored into his family.

Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), .

Here is where the rubber meets the road. There may be people here that are the sheep, been with God and slowly wondered off at times willingly but often unknowingly. Then there may be those here that have in some sense “given their lives to God” the coin and the son that never left the father, but are lost. Coming to church every week but have never fully accepted God into their lives, obeying the father but never really loving the father.

In some sense maybe we all fit all of the scenarios. It is great news if we realize this because if we do see that this is who we are then we can enjoy the salvation that come from God. God is in search of you. You do not need to be perfect to come to Him. If you are battered, bruised, ready to give up, ready to perish Jesus will encircle you in His arms of love and will with rejoicing carry you to safety. Often, we hear that in order to receive God’s love and forgiveness we must first repent but I want to assure you today that we do not have to do this as we respond to God He reveals His love to us so that we may repent.

In some sense may be we all fit all of the scenarios. It is great news if we realize this because if we do see that this is who we are then we can enjoy the salvation that come from God. God is in search of you. You do not need to be perfect to come to Him. If you are battered, bruised, ready to give up, ready to perish Jesus will encircle you in His arms of love and will with rejoicing carry you to safety. Often we hear that in order to receive God’s love and forgiveness we must first repent but I want to assure you to day that we do not have to do this as we respond to God He reveals His love to us so that we may repent.

In some sense maybe we all fit all of the scenarios. It is great news if we realize this because if we do see that this is who we are then we can enjoy the salvation that come from God. God is in search of you. You do not need to be perfect to come to Him. If you are battered, bruised, ready to give up, ready to perish Jesus will encircle you in His arms of love and will with rejoicing carry you to safety. Often, we hear that in order to receive God’s love and forgiveness we must first repent but I want to assure you today that we do not have to do this as we respond to God He reveals His love to us so that we may repent.

God is desperately in search of us. Let us each morning for the rest of our lives say a simple prayer before we get up. “Jesus I am lost find me this morning and let your guiding Holy Spirit live in me.”

Amen

God in Search of us

Oops: upsetting the equilibrium

Ugh: The Plot Thickens

Aha: Disclosing the clue to resolution

Whee: Experiencing the Gospel

Whee: Experiencing the Gospel

Yeah: Anticipating the Future