Luke 15
When I read this chapter almost two weeks ago I had no reaction.
nothing.
I mean, I've heard the story of the prodigal son
like a thousand times.
A son leaves home, realizes how good he had it, and comes back.
It doesn't even seem that applicable when I paraphrase it that way,
because most people leave home and never come back.
This guy was just an exceptional loser, no?
ok, I'm not trying to be flippant...
I know there is more to the story.
Let's look at a quick outline of the chapter,
It describes three situations, all similar:
A lost sheep -
A lost coin -
A lost son -
My first impression is being a little bothered.
annoyed.
Jesus is using three parables to tell the same story?
Isn't this concept simple enough to be understood
without having to tell it three different ways?
So this is a red flag to me.
I don't think Jesus would repeat himself pointlessly.
So what is different?
What am I not seeing?
Well... one obvious difference is that no one went looking for the son.
It has been my personal philosophy is that sin is selfishness.
What separates us from God is selfishness.
Joy is giving, pleasure is taking.
God lets us choose pleasure over joy.
But suddenly we find ourselves alone.
or I should say hopefully eventually we will realize we are alone.
And come back.
But what about those first two stories?
My philosophy doesn't fit.
The lost sheep wasn't being selfish.
It just wandered off.
It wasn't being rebellious, running away from the shepherd.
It just got lost.
And the coin didn't do anything at all, on its own.
Even safe at home
no struggling with self, joy, pleasure or sin.
It still slipped through a crack somehow.
But what happened in those cases?
The owner actively pursued the lost.
What a comfort, to know that when one slips away,
the loss is noticed.
and the owner cares enough to come looking.
This is a revelation to me.
I have always had the opinion
that it was the lost who had to "do something" to "get found".
That "God helps those who help themselves".
Don't these parables clearly imply
that the master seeks us out?
And rejoices when we are found?
Rejoicing.
That's a good thing...
And if my interpretation is in question,
this concise summary by Jesus himself seems to clarify:
-=-=-=-
Now I gotta look at that last part a little bit more.
The prodigal son goes off, realizes truth, comes back.
but I'm thinking about the other son,
the one who stayed behind
and did his father's wishes
(the one we usually think of as the GOOD son)
He heard the music and rejoicing over his brother's return,
and learned about the fattened calf...
I heard a pastor say this son was more lost than all the others,
and I can't quite get that out of my mind.
I don't know if I agree with that,
but this is a point worth making:
Whoever could be angry at something that God is rejoicing over
(so much that you won't "go in" as stated in 15:28)
means that person's heart is not aligned with God's
If we are truly living in the spirit,
part of the body of Christ
a member of the true church,
then when one celebrates, we all celebrate, right?
I DID notice that the father went out to THIS son,
was he looking for a lost sheep?
I have never thought of the elder son as one of the lost,
so it makes me wonder if this son ever "went in".
The text doesn't really say, does it?
So looking at it this way,
its easy for me to see the problem with the Pharisees.
And by the same token I can translate this to my own life.
I know I make instant jugments about how "worthy" people are,
and how much better my life is.
How much of a better person I am than so many others.
(ouch)
I admit it.
Have people really lost their place in the kingdom
all the while thinking they were secure in the arms of the Lord?
What a horrible thought.
I really have to keep myself open to the true meaning
and gaurd against that smug feeling.
I don't want to become one of the "good" christians
who seem so hardened and bitter and unloving.
-=-=-=-
I'm wondering about one more thing.
When Jesus told of the lost sheep,
he was responding to a comment by the Pharisees:
So I naturally assume that
when Jesus is talking about finding a lost sheep and rejoicing,
what he REALLY means is
that HE is finding a lost SINNER and rejoicing, right?
But then he talks about the woman losing a coin,
and for some reason I wonder if he is still referring to himself.
Could he mean that WE are to light a lamp and do the sweeping?
Well, I suppose He is the light, but...
Okay, let's say I have ten beautiful children,
and I see that one has slipped away.
would he expect ME to light and sweep and search?
Or is that the point of the third parable?
We let them go,
and trust God to do the work?
I really don't understand it now, in that context.
my own child.
lost.
Hmmm... Well, this chapter seemed boring at first
because I thought he was telling the same tired old story
three different ways,
and I was thinking "OK, I GET IT."
Now I dig a little deeper, and suddenly its too deep for me.
Well, I pray for understanding
He promised a good counselor would be available to teach me all things,
and I am grateful for that promise.
Thank you, Jesus.
Teach me, Spirit.
nothing.
I mean, I've heard the story of the prodigal son
like a thousand times.
A son leaves home, realizes how good he had it, and comes back.
It doesn't even seem that applicable when I paraphrase it that way,
because most people leave home and never come back.
This guy was just an exceptional loser, no?
ok, I'm not trying to be flippant...
I know there is more to the story.
Let's look at a quick outline of the chapter,
It describes three situations, all similar:
A lost sheep -
Luk 15:4
What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness
and go after that which is lost until he finds it?
A lost coin -
Luk 15:8
Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one,
does she not light a lamp and sweep the house,
and seek carefully until she finds it?
A lost son -
Luk 15:11
And He said, A certain man had two sons.
Luk 15:12
And the younger of them said to his father,
Father, give me the portion of goods that is coming to me.
And he divided his living to them.
Luk 15:13
And not many days afterward, the younger son gathered all together
and went away into a far country.
And there he wasted his property, living dissolutely.
My first impression is being a little bothered.
annoyed.
Jesus is using three parables to tell the same story?
Isn't this concept simple enough to be understood
without having to tell it three different ways?
So this is a red flag to me.
I don't think Jesus would repeat himself pointlessly.
So what is different?
What am I not seeing?
Well... one obvious difference is that no one went looking for the son.
It has been my personal philosophy is that sin is selfishness.
What separates us from God is selfishness.
Joy is giving, pleasure is taking.
God lets us choose pleasure over joy.
But suddenly we find ourselves alone.
or I should say hopefully eventually we will realize we are alone.
And come back.
But what about those first two stories?
My philosophy doesn't fit.
The lost sheep wasn't being selfish.
It just wandered off.
It wasn't being rebellious, running away from the shepherd.
It just got lost.
And the coin didn't do anything at all, on its own.
Even safe at home
no struggling with self, joy, pleasure or sin.
It still slipped through a crack somehow.
But what happened in those cases?
The owner actively pursued the lost.
What a comfort, to know that when one slips away,
the loss is noticed.
and the owner cares enough to come looking.
This is a revelation to me.
I have always had the opinion
that it was the lost who had to "do something" to "get found".
That "God helps those who help themselves".
Don't these parables clearly imply
that the master seeks us out?
And rejoices when we are found?
Rejoicing.
That's a good thing...
And if my interpretation is in question,
this concise summary by Jesus himself seems to clarify:
Luk 15:10
Likewise I say to you,
there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
-=-=-=-
Now I gotta look at that last part a little bit more.
The prodigal son goes off, realizes truth, comes back.
but I'm thinking about the other son,
the one who stayed behind
and did his father's wishes
(the one we usually think of as the GOOD son)
He heard the music and rejoicing over his brother's return,
and learned about the fattened calf...
Luk 15:28
And he was angry and would not go in.
Therefore his father came out and entreated him.
Luk 15:29
And answering he said to his father,
Lo, these many years I have served you,
neither did I transgress your commandment at any time.
And yet you never gave me a kid so that I might make merry with my friends.
Luk 15:30
But when this son of yours came,
who has devoured your living with harlots,
you have killed for him the fattened calf.
Luk 15:31
And he said to him,
Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.
Luk 15:32
It was right that we should make merry and be glad,
for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again;
and was lost, and is found.
I heard a pastor say this son was more lost than all the others,
and I can't quite get that out of my mind.
I don't know if I agree with that,
but this is a point worth making:
Whoever could be angry at something that God is rejoicing over
(so much that you won't "go in" as stated in 15:28)
means that person's heart is not aligned with God's
If we are truly living in the spirit,
part of the body of Christ
a member of the true church,
then when one celebrates, we all celebrate, right?
I DID notice that the father went out to THIS son,
was he looking for a lost sheep?
I have never thought of the elder son as one of the lost,
so it makes me wonder if this son ever "went in".
The text doesn't really say, does it?
So looking at it this way,
its easy for me to see the problem with the Pharisees.
And by the same token I can translate this to my own life.
I know I make instant jugments about how "worthy" people are,
and how much better my life is.
How much of a better person I am than so many others.
(ouch)
I admit it.
Have people really lost their place in the kingdom
all the while thinking they were secure in the arms of the Lord?
What a horrible thought.
I really have to keep myself open to the true meaning
and gaurd against that smug feeling.
I don't want to become one of the "good" christians
who seem so hardened and bitter and unloving.
-=-=-=-
I'm wondering about one more thing.
When Jesus told of the lost sheep,
he was responding to a comment by the Pharisees:
Luk 15:2
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying,
This man receives sinners and eats with them.
So I naturally assume that
when Jesus is talking about finding a lost sheep and rejoicing,
what he REALLY means is
that HE is finding a lost SINNER and rejoicing, right?
But then he talks about the woman losing a coin,
and for some reason I wonder if he is still referring to himself.
Could he mean that WE are to light a lamp and do the sweeping?
Well, I suppose He is the light, but...
Okay, let's say I have ten beautiful children,
and I see that one has slipped away.
would he expect ME to light and sweep and search?
Or is that the point of the third parable?
We let them go,
and trust God to do the work?
I really don't understand it now, in that context.
my own child.
lost.
Hmmm... Well, this chapter seemed boring at first
because I thought he was telling the same tired old story
three different ways,
and I was thinking "OK, I GET IT."
Now I dig a little deeper, and suddenly its too deep for me.
Well, I pray for understanding
He promised a good counselor would be available to teach me all things,
and I am grateful for that promise.
Thank you, Jesus.
Teach me, Spirit.
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