As Easter quickly approaches, I find myself getting more and more excited. For me, this is “the most wonderful time of the year.” It is the celebration of the greatest event in all of history – when Jesus defeated sin, death, and hell forever.

As we get closer to this celebration, I am currently going through a sermon series at the church where I serve as pastor that looks at the parables that Jesus shares in Luke 15. These three parables all share an important truth: God is One that pursues what was lost.

During this week leading up to Easter, I will share a little of the things that I have seen from this chapter of parables that Jesus shared with those in the first century and what He is saying to us in the 21st century.

The Scene

The reason for this chapter of parables is because of those who were gathering that day to listen to Jesus.  There was a motley crew that was gathering to hear the words of Jesus.  The religious elite (Pharisees and scribes) were there first it seems.  Then another group began to gather around.  

This new crowd that was gathering around was one that did not look much like the religious elite that were there.  This new crowd was called the “tax collectors and sinners.”  These were the folks from the wrong side of the tracks… the outsiders… the outcasts… “those people.”

Jesus welcomed all who wanted to know the truth of God to come near and gave all the same opportunity to hear and respond.  Jesus knew that His audience was diverse.  He wanted to share God’s truth with all who were present.  The tool that He chose to use was to share three parables that all focused on the same thing.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

As Jesus shares this parable of a lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), He talks about a person two owns a hundred sheep and finds that one is missing.  Jesus poses the question, “Who wouldn’t go looking for this one?”

The people to whom Jesus was speaking would know certain truths about sheep that may slip past some of us today.  Sheep are not the smartest of animals.  They have a tendency to get into trouble easily.  They do not always pay attention to their surroundings.  This may be why people are compared to sheep many times in the Bible.  We have a tendency to get ourselves in some pretty good predicaments, don’t we?

The sheep in this parable was lost because of its own doing.  It was not the fault of any other.  We live in a day and age where blame is the name of the game.  Not many like to take responsibility for their own decisions and actions.  The truth is that most of the trouble that we find ourselves in is a result of our own doing.

The was lost and could do nothing to help himself get out of the situation.  Every human being should be able to relate to this.  Because of sin in our lives, we find ourselves in a predicament that we cannot get ourselves out of.  Just like the sheep in this parable, we need someone to come to the rescue.

God recognizes when one is missing.

It is amazing to think that the God of the universe knows when one single person is not where he or she should be.  Even with 7.6 billion people on the planet right now, God pays attention to little ol’ me.

God relentlessly searches for us.

Jesus shares that God relentlessly pursues the one that is not where he or she should be.  The search is one that is done until what was lost is found.

God carries us back to where we need to be.

The picture of the shepherd finding the lost sheep, putting it on his shoulders, and carrying it back to where it needs to be is one that shows exactly what God does in the life of a repentant sinner.  God searches for them… God finds them… God does not lecture or point a finger in his/her face… God simply picks up the sheep, places it on His own shoulders and carries it.

The Call to Rejoice

As Jesus wraps this parable up, He was intending to deal with the complaining that was going on in the crowd.  The religious people were murmuring about all these “sinners” coming and being around Jesus.

Jesus shows that God’s heart is for His people to rejoice when a person who has been lost in their sin is brought back into the fold.  There was no room for the complaining and murmuring that was going on.

As the shepherd in the parable says, “rejoice with me” to his neighbors and friends, it reminds us that joy demands fellowship.  The joy that God brings into our lives is not be experienced alone.

Do we grumble or celebrate when we hear the calling of God to draw close to those who do not know Him and share the gospel with them?

Do we get excited when we see a sinner turn from his or her sin and turn to Christ?

The God of the Bible is not one who just sits upon His throne in heaven and allow things to just “pan out.”  He is a pursuer of those who sin has separated from Him.  If we have experienced that pursuit and answered the call to return to Him, then we have a responsibility to share in the ministry of pursuing those who are far from Christ.

How we should long to hear every man, woman, boy and girl sing the lines from the famous hymn:

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I’m found; was blind but now I see!”