Jesus was teaching, as he often did. One thing about Jesus is that he attracted people, all kinds of people; people from different social strata, different financial strata, different races, and both genders. We find that both the religious and non-religious liked to hang around Jesus and find out what he was teaching. In fact, it was because that Jesus attracted the tax collectors and sinners that many of the religious had a problem with Jesus. The religious leaders of the day came complaining to Jesus, telling him that he shouldn’t be associated with these people. They even go so far to say that he shouldn’t be eating with them. Now, first let’s get the context of this. First, a rabbi (Jesus) a teacher was hanging around “unclean” people. He was popular and they liked hearing His teaching. This was bad enough according to the religious leaders, but He even ate with them. To us that doesn’t seem like much, but in this culture eating with a person was a sign of close, intimate friendship. The Pharisees wouldn’t have been caught dead hanging around such riff-raff. Tax-collectors were tawdry, despised Jews, because many times they ripped off their own kind. They often collected much more than what was required simply because they could. We would compare them to used car salesmen, or ambulance chasing lawyers, or any other despised occupation. In addition, Jesus attracted those who were downright sinners; prostitutes, drug addicts, drunkards and the list goes on. Both men and women hung around Him. Which was just another reason to despise Him. Any self-respecting rabbi would never be caught teaching women.
So when the Pharisees accused Jesus of hanging around the dregs of society, Jesus replied with three stories. First, he told the story of the shepherd who had lost a sheep. The shepherd left the 99 safe sheep and risked life and limb and the safety of the 99 to go out and find the lost sheep. When he found it, he called all his friends to celebrate with him.
Next, Jesus tells the story of a woman who had ten coins and lost one. She makes a clean sweep of the house leaving no dust left unturned and when she finds it, she calls all of her friends to celebrate over the lost coin.
The third story is also a story about someone who is lost. A local farmer had two sons. The farm was a happening operation. They were making good money taking care of the farm. However, one of the sons, the younger one, became discontent working the farm. He went to his dad and said, “I’m tired of this one horse town. I can’t stand being on this farm anymore. There’s nothing to do around here. I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got to go to the big city. I would be real nice if you could give me my share of the inheritance right now dad. Even if you don’t I’m going anyway and oh by the way, I want you to bless me too.”
Dad was in shock. He had no idea the youngest son was so discontent. He thinks about it for a few moments, makes a few phone calls to transfer money and writes a check for the boy who wants to get out. The boy takes the check to the bank and takes off for the big city.
“Wow! I can’t believe I’m free of that dumpy old farm!” he thinks to himself. He goes out and buys the best car money can buy. He’s living out his dream. He takes off for New York City. That’s where the action is. He spent several years in wild living; parties, nightclubs and bars, women and so on and so on. Daddy gave him a lot of money. He had all the friends money could buy and he was on top of the world. One night his world came crashing to a halt. Yes, he spent a lot of money, but he had invested a lot in the future. One day, his investments fell a part. He went from a rich young man to a poor young man. When he lost everything, he lost his penthouse apartment, his so-called friends, the women, and the fast car. He ended up homeless, living out of a box in one of the coldest winters he could ever remember. All that he had worked for was gone. He had to dig through the dumpsters. He remembered making fun of the men who did that in his earlier days. This was no fun at all. As usually happens when we reach the bottom, he came to his senses.
“Wait a second,” he thought. “This is ridiculous. My dad’s workers are in better shape than this and they only make minimum wage. Dad puts them up and feeds them. If only I could go back and say to day, ‘I’m sorry, take me in as one of your hired hands.’” He had made up his mind. Yes, that is what he was going to do. He hitch-hiked his way back home. It was a humbling experience. His dad had a big estate with a big gate in front. He got a ride all the way to the gate. He thanked the driver and got out with nothing but the clothes on his back. He started walking the long road to Father’s house.
Dad had just gotten done with lunch and he went out on the porch. “What!” he thought “is that my son walking toward me?” He leaps off the porch and starts running down the driveway. He meets his son and gives him a big hug. It was so good to see him. Dad said to son, “I thought you were dead. You’re mom and I were sick to our stomachs. Come on in, son.”
“No, dad, I can’t. I have sinned against God and against you. I don’t deserve to be your son. Please let me be one of your hired hands and I’ll be happy with that.”
No, son, you are forgiven. We are going to have a party, the likes of which you have never seen before. We are going to invite all your old friends and all the hired hands. We’re going to kill the choicest steer on the farm and have a great feast. He called on the radio to one of the hired hands. Get some clothes for my son. Get the shower ready. The son I thought was dead is alive. The son I thought was lost is found.
What a story. How does that relate to us? Part of living a life of worship is to go searching for the lost and when we find them, share the love of Jesus with them so that they can be found and then we can celebrate what God has done.
Is this kind of forgiveness possible? Here was a boy who took half of his father’s money and spent it, not as dad would have wished, but on wild living. He comes home completely broke and dad does not scold him, but welcomes him back into the family.
God is that kind of Father that forgives us when we have completely forsaken and forgotten Him. When we repent and ask for forgiveness, he welcomes us back with open arms. He tells us that we aren’t going to live with the hired help, but that we are his sons and daughters once more.
That is a God that is amazing. That is a God that lets us take his name through the mud that we were saved from and yet forgives us, when we ask for it. Let’s take a look at 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” Now, we often use this for those who don’t know Christ, but this was written to those who already know Him. We are so quick to shoot our own wounded. I don’t think that’s the way Christ would have acted. This morning, you may be a believer that has stumbled. You don’t think that forgiveness from God is possible, but it is. He has promised it in His word in the passage that we have just read. Don’t keep missing out on God’s promises simply because you think God won’t forgive you for past sins, even as a believer. God’s grace and forgiveness is available.
Second, as we think about reaching our community, our city, our county, and our world for Christ, we need to remember that some don’t feel the love of Christ from Christians. Sometimes we can be very judgmental. Yes, they are wallowing in some of the worst sin that we can think of and yet, Christ calls us to love them. Remember the sheep? Remember the coins? The owners didn’t stop searching until the lost was found. That should be our desire as well. We shouldn’t stop seeking the lost until everyone has been found. Christ has commanded us to build the kingdom. We need to do that. We give God the glory, we give God the honor, we worship Him when we build his Kingdom. Christ has commanded us to go and teach and make disciples to Jerusalem (what’s your Jerusalem? Could it be the Preston and Horsepasture communities?), Judea (what is our Judea? How about Martinsville and Henry County?) Samaria (who is our Samaria? Who do you see as least likely to receive the love of Christ? How about your enemies? Are they deserving of receiving the love of Christ?) and the other parts of the earth. This is building God’s Kingdom. It’s an act of worship. Giving your heart to Christ is an act of worship. Sharing your faith and letting others receive Christ is an act of worship. There are many who are dragging through the mud. It is our job to pull them out of the miry mud and bring them to Christ as He has commanded us.
Let’s show others the love of Christ. Let us be Jesus’ hands and feet. Let us be the hands and feet of the Father whose son was lost and now is found.
