LUKE 15:8-10

Luke 15:8-10

I imagine we’ve all lost something of value at times. I remember when I was near the end of my senior year of high school, 1978, we got our class rings from Jostens as I recall. Are high school class rings still a thing? A hundred bucks in ’78 was a big deal. Anyway, our friend group decided to go to Six Flags over Georgia outside Atlanta that next weekend, sporting our new, flashy rings. Well, we got on a log ride. Two things you should know: first, you get wet on log rides, and second, I haven’t always been the towering physical specimen you see standing before you today. Then, I was 6’1” and weighed an impressive 145 pounds. That’s a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19. To say I was skinny would be an understatement. Halfway through the ride, with my hands gripping the sides, my less than one week old ring slipped off into the rapids – never to be seen again.

Then, a few short years ago, Tana and I led one of our trips to Israel. Our daughter Laura came with us. A jeweler came on the tour bus, selling necklaces and rings. You could order a ring with whatever you wanted inscribed on it. Laura and I decided to get silver rings engraved with the Greek word eclektos meaning chosen. When we received the rings a couple days later, mine was a little loose, but whatever. After returning home, I wore it for a few weeks before noticing it was gone. How can you lose a ring that says chosen? I don’t know where I lost it – somewhere in the house? Doubtful. In the yard? Probably. I thought about having one of you metal-detecting beach combers come by, but no big deal. Clearly, I can’t hold onto a ring – except for my gold wedding band I received from my wife 46 years ago. I plan to keep that one.

Oh, and a couple months ago on our last trip to Israel, a jeweler came on the bus, and Tana and I each ordered matching silver rings with the word agapatos – Greek for beloved. I plan to keep this one, too.

The point is, we’ve all lost things of value, and despite looking, sometimes we never find the lost and sometimes valuable item. But that’s not true in our study of the stories of lost things in Luke 15 as we continue our study of this gospel. You see, when the Savior searches, lost things are found. Remember, Luke 14 ended with these familiar words of Jesus, “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear,” and chapter 15 began with tax collectors and sinners coming near Him to listen to Him. Don’t miss that – he who has ears to hear, let him hear – and who was that? Tax collectors and sinners came near to hear. Meaning, we are in good company.

Surprise, surprise, the Pharisees and scribes didn’t like it. They began to grumble – not the first time they grumbled against Jesus – and said, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Which we saw was an amazing statement of gospel intent, if it wasn’t for the grumbling part. This is exactly why Jesus came – to receive sinners. That is, sinners who repent and believe the good news. Those who receive Jesus and His finished work on the cross. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost – not the self-deceived found, the lost.

As one author wrote, the Pharisees were shocked to see that Jesus preferred “the society of notorious sinners to their own irreproachable manners and decorous conversation…They could not understand why a teacher of holy life, instead of frowning upon the notoriously profligate, should show a preference for their society.” (Marcus Dods) Why indeed.

So, Jesus told these grumblers a parable. Interesting choice of words – He told them a parable, singular. But then He goes on to tell three stories in this one parable – all of which demonstrate this was exactly why Jesus came – to seek and find lost things. He tells the stories of a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. Each communicates the main truth – Jesus came to seek, find and restore lost things. Lost people. But each story contains truths that round out our understanding of the Savior’s mission – a couple weeks ago, I called them gems to be mined from each story.

In the first two, things were lost and then sought till they were found. The first was the lost sheep. The shepherd had a hundred sheep, that’s quite a few, but one was missing. We don’t know how it came to be missing, how it wandered off – we just know when it came time for the count – one was gone. So, the shepherd, not being content with the 99 remaining – actually, not being content with losing one – went on a search mission. And when he found the lost sheep, he carried it on his shoulders back to the fold. And when he returned, he called for his friends to come celebrate with him – I found my sheep which was lost. Most then, and even now, understand that story. That’s what parables are – familiar stories communicating spiritual truth.

You see, then, Jesus applied the spiritual truth of the story: I tell you (remember, He’s speaking to grumbling Pharisees irritated because Jesus associated with sinners) I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (you know, the ones you’re grumbling about who I’m hanging out with) more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Joy in heaven over one and every sinner who was lost and is found. Now remember, Jesus was not suggesting the 99 did not need repentance – that they’d somehow made it on their own. Oh no, they simply didn’t see themselves as lost – in need of rescue, of turning from sin. He was talking to self-righteous Pharisees.

Here are the truths we mined from that first story. The sheep was lost and in danger. It did not have the ability to find its way back to the fold. It was in danger of self-destruction as sheep are quite helpless by themselves. It was in danger of predators who would seek its life. But while it was helpless, I suggested it was not entirely hopeless – yes, hopeless by itself, but there was the hope of a loving shepherd to find it, to rescue it, and carry it to the safety of the fold. There was hope to be found outside the lost sheep. I suggested that’s what happens every time a lost sinner is found by the Chief Shepherd. All we like sheep have gone astray, until He seeks us and finds us.

Which brings us to the second of the three stories this morning, the parable or the story of the lost coin. Let’s read that – Luke 15:8-10.

It’s a simple story, but it’s an awesome one. Notice, both of these first two stories highlight lostness and helplessness. The sheep and the coin needed something, someone outside themselves to find them. Notice also, the first story was one of a hundred. The second was one of ten, perhaps raising the value. You see, the second, while a lifeless coin – had some intrinsic value. And the woman sought till she found it.

Does anyone need to hear that this morning? That while you are lost and lifeless, you are not valueless. Oh, you may be a tarnished coin, but the Lord will seek you – will you be found? And the truth is, if you remain unfound, you will remain worthless – of no value. Like a penny that people step over. But if He finds you, you will be like that 1943 wheat penny. That 1943 penny was mistake – an accident – supposed to minted on zinc-coated steel. They mistakenly minted a few on copper, and today those mistakes are worth over a million bucks each. Don’t step over pennies – Jesus doesn’t. You see, as He finds you and you surrender to Him, your life will have – perhaps for the first time – meaning and value and purpose and joy. It’s why you were created.

Let’s look at the story. Jesus started the last story with, what man among you. He starts this one with, or what woman. Stop right there. Remember, He’s talking to the Pharisees. If it was irritating that He asked them to enter the first story, considering themselves a low-life shepherd, it was downright offensive He asked them to enter this story considering themselves a woman. No way. To use a woman as the subject of the story would have been unacceptable. But that’s alright – remember, He came to seek and save the lost – even those this society, and others like it, consider unworthy of attention. Or what woman, ladies, He sees you. Several thoughts here:

First, we’ve noted the author, Luke, makes much of women in a society that did the opposite. That demeaned them, that devalued them. Jesus did not. In fact, much of the time, Luke is simply quoting Jesus, or describing His attention to women. Consider, as Philip Ryken pointed out, how many times things like this happen in the Gospel of Luke. In both His teaching and miracles, Jesus intentionally included women. You didn’t do that – Jesus did. Miracles performed side by side, stories told, examples given in pairs, and in many of these pairs, one is often a woman. For example, Jesus healed a centurion’s servant in Luke 7, followed by raising a widow’s son from the dead. Who notices a widow? Jesus did.

Jesus also told two parables about how God answers persistent prayers: one is the friend who knocks on the door at midnight to speak to the man of the house in Luke 11; the other is the story of the persistent widow before the judge in Luke 18. Another, when the people were constantly asking Jesus for a sign, He talked about the sign of Jonah – as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, so also will the Son of Man be in the earth for three days and nights. And then He said, the men of Ninevah and the Queen of the South will rise up to condemn this sign-seeking generation.

It’s all over the place. Jesus performed a couple miracles on the Sabbath – one was a woman with a spirit causing her to be bent double; one was for a man with dropsy. In describing people He saved, Jesus called one a daughter of Abraham, the other a son of Abraham. Jesus gave a couple parables about the kingdom of God – the first was the story of man sowing a mustard seed, the other was a woman working leaven in her dough. We’ll see when He teaches on the coming of the Son of Man, men will be working in the field, and women will be grinding grain. Jesus not only taught men, He also taught women. He not only sought men, He also sought women. Such is our Savior. He didn’t devalue women, He dignified women.

You see, the truth is, Jesus could have told this story about a man, but He chose a woman. In fact, there was an old Jewish rabbi who told a similar story about a man who lost a little coin and then searched for it till he found it. The rabbi compared the man’s careful search to the way faithful Jews should look for treasure in the Torah – the Word of God. And indeed, they should. But Jesus chose to tell the story with a woman as the main protagonist.

Well, we must move on. What woman, if she has ten silver coins – this is one of only two places in the New Testament the word drachma appears. It’s a Roman coin similar to the Greek denarius, equal to about one day’s pay for the common laborer. She had ten of them – either her life savings, or more likely, a dowry she received. The coins would have been kept tied up in a rag as a makeshift purse, or perhaps, tied together as a necklace. However she got them and however she kept them, they were kept for some future need. These were her savings, and her security for the future.

You see, she’s obviously a relatively poor woman. While ten such coins were some money, it was not that significant. But it was to her. You see, at some point, she lost one. Again, we’re not told how – simply that one was missing. A day’s wages – ten percent of her cash assets – that’s actually more than one sheep of a hundred.

So, Jesus asks, does she not light a lamp and sweep the house until she finds it? Several thoughts there. Again, she was a poor woman. Houses of the poor were quite small, typically one room, and had no windows. She would have to light a lamp to see. Second, the floors were either dirt or perhaps covered with straw, both of which would allow for a lost coin to be hidden. In Galilee where Jesus was from, there’s evidence some houses were paved with flagstones which would also hide a coin in the cracks. This was a serious situation. So, she lights the lamp and sweeps the floor carefully – looking through every nook and cranny, every corner, sweeping away dirt or straw, until she finds it. Notice also, she searches until – not if – until she finds it.

Don’t miss the point – this is the way Jesus looks for lost people – those who are hidden away in some dark, dirty corner, some crack between the rocks, under someone’s feet.

Also, don’t miss in this story, the woman searching is comparable to the shepherd who is seeking, a figure representing the Son of God, or God Himself. Do you see that? In this story, the one searching is a woman. Yes, the Scripture refers to God in the masculine – He is Father, He is Son, He is Spirit, and all the pronouns referring to all three persons of the Trinity are always in the masculine. But God is Spirit, and is really neither male nor female. Further, we remember Genesis 1 says God created humankind in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Both men and women are equally created in the image of God. Equal dignity, equal honor, equal value, equal purpose. That’s not to eliminate gender distinction – no, don’t do that – this was God’s creative work; nor does it eliminate God-given roles and responsibilities – but it does highlight the dignity of those often overlooked.

And so, there are feminine qualities He is not embarrassed to take upon Himself. He is like a woman who gives birth to the nation of Israel in Deuteronomy 32. He is like one who nurses her child in Isaiah 49, or comforts her child in Isaiah 66. He is like a hen who gathers her chicks under her wings in Luke 13. And here, the woman who searches is the God-figure in the story. I am not suggesting God is a goddess or even feminine – the Scripture says otherwise. But He does not demean women in a way that He does not have female traits like comfort, care and compassion. He does.

Well, when she has found the coin, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which was lost!” Several in the past have been critical of this woman’s response, (Schweizer calls her a dumb woman) suggesting she would have spent more on this community gathering than the coin was worth. That’s pressing the details of the story more than is intended. Or does it – does it rather display the extravagant joy God expresses when lost people are found. But don’t miss what is intended – she rejoices because she has found her lost coin. That which had been lost has been found.

Bringing us to a stunning realization in the last verse. We remember from the first story that when the lost sheep was found, the shepherd called the community together for a celebration – for the sheep that was lost had been found. Then we read these words, Jesus’ words, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.” We perhaps imagine a party in heaven – streamers and balloons and music and praise – the angels and others celebrating the repentance of a lost sinner. While we celebrate physical birth and physical birthdays, they celebrate spiritual birth and spiritual birthdays when people are born again.

But there’s another truth to be seen in this second story – a new gem to be mined. Don’t miss it. Jesus says, “In the same way, I tell you, Pharisees, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Remember, first, He’s speaking to the Pharisees. While they are grumbling, heaven is joyfully celebrating when a lost sheep is found, when a lost coin is found, when a sinner is found. When a sinner repents. They rejoice; they celebrate.

But notice, second the change of wording – again, it is stunning. There is joy – not in heaven, although that’s true – but there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Think about that for a minute. Who is in the presence of the angels in heaven? God Himself. Will you let that sink in? God Himself is rejoicing. He finds great joy when sinners repent. He celebrated your conversion, and He celebrates your being His child. He celebrated your coming home, as we’ll see over the next couple of weeks in the story of the prodigal son. God rejoices in the presence of the angels, and all heaven sees it. Are you kidding me?

Now, I know there is a teaching out there that is in some ways right that God is impassible. That is, that God does not have emotion like we have emotion. That God does not experience involuntary emotions, suffering, or change caused by external forces. You see, it is thought that emotions are feelings of joy or sorrow or gloom that are largely based on external circumstances. And as God is the Creator, and not dependent on others for His passions, but altogether sovereign – that is, in control, and as such, He brings to pass all that pleases Him – He cannot experience emotions like we do – that is, being dependent on His creation outside Himself. I get that.
But can He not experience joy in the circumstances He brought about? He sent His Son to be our Savior. The Shepherd, the Son, searches us out, finds us, and carries us home to the fold. Is this surprising to God since the work of salvation and the results of salvation are all in His sovereign hands? No, of course not. But can He not find joy when His salvation is completed in the lives of lost people? That’s what the text says. He rejoices over lost sinners coming home – yes, brought about by His sovereign and good purposes. So there is a sense in which He is rejoicing not externally, but internally as a result of His own work. But understand, there is a sense in which you are the object of His joy.

Have you ever felt lost? Do you feel lost? Have you ever felt worthless? Do you feel worthless? I’m saying to you, you are not. Oh, it may be true that while you are lost, not fulfilling the purposes for which God created you, you have little to no value.

But when God finds you – if you have been found – He carried you on His shoulders to the fold. He celebrated, perhaps with, perhaps in the presence of the angels that you have been found. You have been restored to value, to honor, to worth. That which was lost in the Garden has been found.

I don’t know what people have said to you or about you – your worth, or lack thereof. I don’t know how they have torn you down, not appreciated you, loved you, honored you, cared for you, even noticed you. I don’t know what feelings of inadequacy and lack and worthlessness you have felt about yourself when you look in the mirror. But our God in heaven searched for you until He found you. And He rejoices over you. You are a son, you are a daughter of the King. It may be time to start believing it and living like it. He is, after all, most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

And finally, if you’re still lost, wandering, no purpose, no value – I say to you, you may helpless, but you are not hopeless. There is a God, the Son of God, who came to seek that which was lost. If you would be simply respond to His call, you can be found. You can be saved. And all heaven will rejoice, and so will we. I close with these thoughts from Philip Ryken:

“Even now He is still conducting His search, looking in every corner of the world for the sinners He died to save. Jesus has sent His gospel out into the world—the gospel that says everyone who trusts in His cross and believes in His empty tomb will be saved. He has sent His Spirit out into the world—the Spirit who convinces people they are lost in sin and invites them to come to Christ. He has sent His church out into the world—the church that proclaims the gospel, by the power of the Spirit, to all the unreached peoples on all the lost continents of the globe. Jesus is looking to find and seeking to save. With painstaking thoroughness, He will keep searching and searching until He finds every last one of the precious coins that belongs in His pocket.”