I lost my glasses the other day.  I do that often.  I put them down somewhere, then forget where I put them. I sometimes I do the same thing with my keys.  My glasses are important to me.  So are my keys. So, when I lose something of vital importance to me, I search diligently for that which was lost until I have found it. 

This week we begin a new sermon series titled, Lost and Found.  The sermons will be taken from three familiar parables recorded for us in Luke 15.  This Sunday we will look at first two parables—the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin.  The next several weeks we will look in detail at the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Jesus told these parables when the Pharisees criticized him for socializing with sinners.  Through these stories of compassion, Jesus revealed his recuse mission for sinners.  In telling these stories, Jesus clearly indicates God’s true attitude towards sinners.

The first parable Jesus tells is the one about the lost sheep.  A lost sheep in the Judean wilderness was doomed. It had no protection and it would be only a short time before the wolves or other predators would attack and kill it. A lost dog might eventually find its way home, but a lost sheep is unable to do so. As such, paints a picture of a lost sinner.  

Surprisingly, the shepherd in the story didn’t despise his straying sheep. The parable gives no indication of the shepherd ever rebuking or chiding the sheep. Instead, he hoists the sheep upon his shoulders and takes it home. An adult sheep can weigh anywhere from 110 to 125 pounds, so carrying a sheep over the shoulder would be no small effort.  But for joy over finding that which was lost, the shepherd bears the discomfort. Likewise, Jesus bore the weight of our sins upon the cross. This parable clearly indicates God’s true attitude towards sinners.

In the story of the woman and her coin, Jesus likens the sinner to a valuable coin that had been lost.  The woman does not take a lax attitude towards her lost possession.  Rather, she takes swift and diligent action. First she lights a lamp, necessarily expending oil, so that she can see clearly. Next, instead of simply glancing here and there, she uses a broom or some kind of tool to sweep her house so that she can reach places that might otherwise be inaccessible to her. Above all, she searches carefully. Her one consuming focus was on finding  that lost coin, no matter how much effort it took. There is no hint of indifference, only diligence. This coin was valuable; she must find it at all costs.

 Jesus wanted the religious leaders to understand how he felt about those who were lost. When we are lost sinners, we are not just “out there” somewhere away from God. God longed for us so much that He took the ultimate action; He offered up His Son as a sacrificial lamb. This He did to cleanse the sinner from sin and restore him to Himself. He would go through any means, any expense to bring them to Himself.

One last thing before I go.  We can’t ignore the rejoicing that comes when something valuable that has been lost is found.  You’ll be happy to hear that I found my glasses.  I certainly was.  And Jesus tells us that all of heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents.   It’s a law of the universe, of heaven and of earth—when that which is lost is found, it’s time for rejoicing.