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February 7, 2016
*Read Lu 15:1-10* – Luke 15 is one of the most wonderful chapters in the Bible.
It consists of three parables that give us amazing insight into the heart of God.
The theme of the chapter is illustrated by this story.
Pres Thos Jefferson was riding with friends one day when they came to a swollen river that had washed out the bridge.
A man contemplating the situation allowed Jefferson’s companions to cross.
But as Jeff approached, he asked for help.
At great risk to himself, Jefferson got the man across.
One of the companions asked, “Did you know that was President Jefferson who helped you across?”
The man replied, “No, I didn’t know that.
All I know is when I looked into your face I saw ‘No’ and when I looked into his face I saw ‘Yes.’”
Similarly these parables teach when it comes to helping sinners who are faced with a stream that they cannot cross on their own, the face of the Pharisees said, “No”.
But thankfully the face of a gracious God always says, “Yes.”
This account opens with tax collectors and sinners crowding around Jesus.
The outcasts of society.
And there is that wonderful phrase in v. 2: “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Of course He did.
That’s why He came -- “to seek and to save that which was lost.”
But the scribes and Pharisees were indignant.
This was company they would never keep.
They despised those they considered sinners.
But not God.
Look at v. 10: “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
When God finds a repentant sinner, His great heart is overjoyed!
Jesus knew the Pharisees would never feel that way.
But those who share the heart of God will.
The 1st 2 parables show how a lost person moves from being the object of God’s righteous condemnation to the object of His heartfelt joy?
The parables tell us how God changes hearts.
*I.
Realize We are Incurably Lost Without Christ*
Both parables make this point.
The woman loses a coin, perhaps part of her dowry, and is desperate to find it.
The shepherd loses a sheep and is desperate to find it.
Jesus uses sheep bc they are stupid and helpless.
A dog might find home.
A sheep – never!
For that reason, they are in constant need of rescue.
Sheep are driven by their desire for food.
They will go after grass anywhere.
It doesn’t matter how steep or dangerous the spot, they go for the grass.
Sometimes it leads them up and they can’t get down.
Or they can eat their way down, but have no way up.
They are oblivious to danger and will follow each other right over a cliff to their death (1500 in Istanbul, 2005).
Do you see why Jesus uses sheep to depict unrepentant sinners?
It’s not that sheep are warm and fuzzy.
It depicts people driven by desire, oblivious to danger -- following others to destruction!
These parables define the human condition.
Now, just as sheep are driven to feed, so every person alive feeds their soul on something.
Some desire drives every life.
The patch of grass may change occasionally, but we are always seeking soul food.
Perhaps it’s ambition.
There’s nothing wrong with the desire to excel at a career.
But if that drives our existence; if we feel we can be somebody only if we can make it to the top of that ladder, then that is our soul food.
Perhaps it’s a relationship.
Nothing wrong with dating, but when it becomes, “I’ll know that I’m okay – that my future is secure – that I have value if that person will marry me,” then it has become soul food.
Perhaps it’s money.
We don’t see money as a means, but as the end.
I’ll only feel safe and secure when I have $1,000,000 in the bank.
Then I’ll be bullet-proof.
Suddenly money has become soul food.
And Jesus is saying, “If you are finding your soul food anywhere other than from the Shepherd, you are hopelessly lost.”
He told the crowd in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
He is saying, “You must believe in me.
I must be your soul food.
Anything else will soon leave you hungry again.
Ambition cannot save you; nor human relationships; nor money; nor pleasure; nor the respect of men.
All will be gone in the twinkling of an eye.
Only I can save you.
I must be your soul food.
You are lost without me.”
Our problem is we will not acknowledge that we are lost.
We will not believe it.
The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray,” but all we see is the next patch of grass – the next sucker food that the Enemy convinces us will give us worth.
Ironically, there is no hope until we see that we are hopeless.
On Feb 6, 1995, a Detroit bus driver finished his shift on Route 21 and headed for the terminal.
When he didn’t arrive, the search was on.
His wife reported that he might have become disoriented due to medication.
Six hours later state police found the bus and driver 200 miles NW of Detroit, driving slowly down a rural two-lane road.
When pulled over the driver said he was lost and agreed he must have made a wrong turn – something that didn’t occur to him during the six hours that he couldn’t find the depot.
Gone astray, like sheep.
Such is the blindness of men outside of Christ.
Oblivious to spiritual danger.
Like the Pharisees.
V. 2, “And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Did they even have a clue what they were saying?
They were announcing the best news ever.
“This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
But they would never experience that eternal blessing for one simple reason.
They would not classify themselves as sinners.
Until you know you are lost, you can’t be found; until you confess your sin, you can’t be forgiven; until you acknowledge you need a Savior, you’ll never find Jesus.
Isa 53:6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way.”
Chasing what looks good to us condemns us.
But the verse finishes, “And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
There is our hope.
But until we own our own sin, laid on Him, sending Him to the cross, we are among those incurably lost outside of Christ.
*II.
Realize We are Intently Looked for By Christ*
Suppose you exploring a boggy area one day and you step in quicksand.
The harder you struggle, the deeper you go and soon you are up to your neck.
It is clear you have no hope of getting out on your own.
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