Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Richard Davenport September 11, 2022 - Proper 19 Luke 15:1-10 Luke 15 gets us to more of Jesus' well-known parables. Jesus has been sharing parables through much of Luke 14 and on into Luke 16. Jesus has a lot to teach and he isn't just talking to the disciples, but also to the Pharisees and the assembled crowd. The parables cover a variety of topics, so Jesus gives the crowd a whole lot to think on. The parable of the prodigal son comes directly after this. There's the dishonest manager, a parable of a banquet and a wedding feast, as well as the rich man and Lazarus. Interspersed in all of that are other points Jesus wants to make. This bit comes almost in the middle of it all. There's a lot of Gospel to be found here. Jesus the Good Shepherd. You can hear the same theme here. Jesus is the one who leads the sheep. He never abandons them to danger. In John 10, he describes the Good Shepherd as the one who stays to fight off the lions and wolves that might break in to steal the sheep. They are his sheep and he won't let anyone or anything take them away. He leads them out to good pasture and he brings them home safely again. Many have gathered to hear Jesus in John 10, not the least of which are the Pharisees and others who doubt his words. Some who even think Jesus has a demon. This probably took place a fair bit before our passage in Luke for today, before Jesus sent out the 72 disciples through the countryside, which was the Gospel reading back at the beginning of July. Here Jesus uses very familiar ideas. Some of his parables, like the Prodigal Son, which comes right after this, have some points that make the hearer wonder who would do something like that. That's exactly what Jesus is trying to explain when he talks about the depth of God's love and how willing God is to forgive those who return to him. In this passage though, there is nothing confusing. "What man of you wouldn't seek out his lost sheep? What woman of you wouldn't rejoice over finding a lost coin?" The Greek for this passage indicates the coins are drachmas. 10 drachmas might easily be the entire life savings for a family. So, losing one is a big deal. It's not hard to see why a woman might clean the house from top to bottom and scour and search every possible place where this coin might have gone. It's also not hard to see why finding it would be a huge relief and cause for a little celebration. These little parables don't have quite the depth that others do, like the Prodigal Son or the Rich Man and Lazarus. These two are short and to the point. As with any parable, the first question is always, "Where is Jesus?" In this case, the answer is pretty obvious. Jesus has already described himself as the good shepherd, the one who watches over the sheep. If he's going to defend the sheep from lions and wolves, he'd certainly be one to find one who is lost and bring it back to the fold. As for the woman, she sees the coins as valuable. When you're out walking around and see a penny on the ground, you might ignore it and think it wasn't worth your time to pick it up and stick it in your pocket. But these coins are definitely worth this woman's time. She seeks the lost one out and rejoices when she finds it. As I said, a lot of Gospel here. Jesus says elsewhere that he has come to seek and to save the lost. It's not hard to see why he might rejoice at the notion that his work does what he wanted it to do. Jesus brings salvation and the angels rejoice when someone receives that salvation and comes to be counted as one of the saved, one of God's children. Jesus comes to seek and to save the lost. Seeking out the lost sheep is what Jesus is all about. It's so important it makes it part of our mission as well. The Great Commission, the mission given to all of us, is to make disciples, to bring the Gospel to the rest of the world. The lost are everywhere, all around us. There are disciples to be made everywhere. The lost need to be found. The lost coins are urgently sought by our Lord and he rejoices every time he finds one. We too, should be about the same business. The angels rejoice over every sinner who repents. Seeking the lost, finding those out there who need the Gospel, hearing the joy and delight in someone's voice when they hear God loves them and that he forgives them, that he even died to save them. What could be better? They are saved. They receive eternal life and forgiveness. They're happy. God's happy. The saints and angels are happy. There really isn't a better conclusion to the story. It directs our attention outward to those who need help, those who need to hear repent, and be saved. Unfortunately, while all of those things are true, they aren't entirely what Jesus is talking about. These parables are full of Gospel, but the Law is still in there hiding. Evangelism, sharing the Gospel and saving the lost is still one of the primary missions of the church, but it's a bit of a secondary problem here. Jesus isn't dealing with a problem that's out there. The first problem is right here among God's people. When we look at who Jesus is talking to, the situation changes. Sure, the disciples are there in the crowd listening, but so are the Pharisees, scribes, priests, and others like them who are trying to make sense of this Jesus guy. They have little use for Jesus. His words don't convince them and they don't see any need for him. They already have everything well in hand. While Jesus is illustrating how joyful he is to rescue those who are lost and bring them back, and how the hosts of heaven rejoice as well, he is also pointing out the distinction between those who know they are lost and know they need help and those who believe they are safe but in reality are just as lost as everyone else. Jesus points out the contrast, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one lost sheep who is found than over 99 who don't need to be found. All of those Jesus talks to are lost sheep. It's just that many of them are perfectly happy where they are and think they are perfectly safe. They don't want a shepherd. They don't want someone to lead them or find them, or much of anything else. You're only lost if you want to be found. You will only be found if someone wants to find you. Every once in a while I get an email from our credit union advertising a sale on their mortgage rates. For a limited time I can get a great deal on a mortgage. I haven't shopped around for a mortgage in at least a year, but it sounds like a good deal. I like our credit union and have been happy with the business I've done with them so far. There really isn't any reason for me not to take them up on their offer. Except for one thing. I'm not in the market for a mortgage right now. That could change if our house suddenly burns down in a fire, but preemptively buying a house just in case that happens doesn't make a lot of sense. I can't afford it. I wouldn't know what to do with it. And, it'll still cost me money even if no one is living there. Better to wait until I actually need one before I start looking at mortgage rates. That's about where the Pharisees are at as well. Jesus is offering a service they don't need, or at least they don't think they do. It sounds like a good deal and all, but in the end they decide to pass. They are perfectly happy being sheep without a shepherd and will stay right where they are until the day grows dark and the wolves come, as Jesus knows they will. Jesus wants them to come back but they do not want to be found and they die in the dark, alone. There is a lot of Gospel here. But, as always, the Law must precede the Gospel. Jesus is speaking of salvation, of coming home and never knowing the fear and sorrow of being lost again. Jesus speaks of protecting you against all of those things that might want to harm you, including sin and death. You may think you are perfectly fine the way you are, but remember Jesus is speaking to the people of God. He's speaking to you. Do not think you are safe unless you have been picked up out of the wilderness by the shepherd. Don't think you can hide from those things that would seek to kill you, leaving you alone and in the dark. Don't think you're safe out there in the world just because nothing is currently eating you or you aren't in the process of walking into a pit. Jesus will find you. Jesus will save you. Jesus will bring you out of the dark into his wonderful light. Jesus will lead you out to green pastures. Jesus will protect you from the lions and wolves that want to destroy you. But you will only be found if you want Jesus to find you. Jesus will only forgive you if you ask him to. He'll only save you if you want to be saved. He'll only give you his perfect eternal life if you are willing to give up your broken, mortal one. But all of these things he is willing to do and will do freely, rejoicing every time he finds a sinner who repents. Our whole lives are one big series of walking off on our own into the bushes, finding a spot that seems comfy for a bit, then wandering a bit further away and falling into a pit we should have avoided or running afoul of some terrible prowling thing that should never have been anywhere near you. Your false sense of security is no one's fault but your own. Jesus knows there are many ways for us to get ourselves in trouble and he knows there are many enemies of God who will think nothing of making life miserable for a few stray sheep or may even try to lead them away altogether. Do not be confident in yourself. Do not think you have the strength to protect yourself or provide for yourself. Do not think you can stand up to the enemies or avoid the pits. Be confident in the Lord. Take joy in being a sheep, not just any sheep, but a sheep who has a shepherd who loves you more than his own life and has proven it. Know with certainty that every time you wander off, he will come looking for you and he will find you if you want to be found. Pray the Spirit gives us the strength and humility to acknowledge our own mistakes and to admit our own failings so that we can turn and call the Good Shepherd to come and bring us back to safety. And know, above all of that, that he won't grumble or complain when he picks you up. He'll sing for joy. For you were lost, and now you are found.