PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN

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We have covered the first parable of seeking for those who are lost-the parable of the lost sheep. Today I want to work through the second of the three parables Jesus shares in response to the criticism. The second parable is the lost coin. He says:

This is a story about a woman who has 10 silver coins and misplaces one of them. This is most likely a Greek silver coin and most agree that its value is equal to a day's wages.

Who knows what a plight the loss of this coin might have caused, but it was a great loss, for sure. The search for this coin would have been a big deal. To search around the house with little light and in a room with a dirt floor was especially difficult. But when she found it, she was elated and threw a party among her friends.

These parables raise the question, "What is the focus of Jesus and therefore what is the focus of the church of Jesus to be?" It seems that there are two extremes. FIRST-focus entirely on reaching the world and ignoring those who have already been reached. And SECOND-focus on those who have already been found and ignore the lost.

Jesus seems to tweak our thinking a bit with these parables. Within the last few years I have come full circle. I have spent most of my life focusing on those who have lost their way, yet recently I have been drawn into focusing on the few who are following Jesus. In the process of being more inward in my focus rather than outward, I realize I have been missing the heart of Jesus and why He came.

The balance of these two potential extremes can be quite tricky. You can discern this balance by the comments that you hear. For instance, since we are such a consumer-oriented society, there can be a great tendency toward focusing on what meets your needs. So, if you find yourself making the following statement, "That group or fellowship just doesn't meet my needs." or, "I am just not getting the feeding the way I like it.", then you have been overtaken by the consumerism of the culture. The church or fellowship does not exist to meet your needs. Yet the churches that become mega-churches spend most of their money to do just that. But where do you see this in the teaching of Jesus?

The other extreme is to focus totally on reaching the lost. I grew up in this kind of atmosphere. It was quite an experience. In our churches the pastors spent most of their time in the work of evangelism. It was so extreme that the pastors would do everything they could do to evangelize the faithful. So, there were many mid-week services where only the leadership was in attendance and the pastor still tried to evangelize them. You see, if this is your only focus then you just keep hammering away with the same message no matter the audience. It's like the saying, "If you only have a hammer, then everything looks like a nail." The constant comment around this sort of focus is, "Are you ready?"

Each of these extreme focuses have arisen not due to the teachings of Jesus. They emerge through what I refer to as "Christian rumors" that have a life all their own. We must discipline ourselves to really FOLLOW JESUS.

Jesus' clear teaching is to focus in three ways. 1. Your relationship with Him, characterized by abiding in Him as a branch abides in a vine. 2. Your relationship with fellow believers, characterized by loving one another. 3. Your relationship with outsiders, characterized by bearing witness about the person of Jesus and His kingdom. And these three relationships are to be practiced in balance. In fact, Jesus is clear that you must practice the first two so that you will be able to bear witness of Him most effectively.

Jesus sheds a lot of light on what the faith-walk ought to look like. So, hang out with Him and be careful to do exactly what He says to do.

PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP

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We come now to Luke chapter 15 where Jesus is criticized again for hanging out with the wrong people.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

There were two types of people at the party where Jesus was attending-tax collectors and sinners. These tax collectors were Jews who were considered traitors for working for the Roman government. They had a reputation for being unfair. He collected the Roman tax and added an additional fee for himself.

The sinners were basically the non-religious. They weren't synagogue-goers for the most part and therefore considered unclean ceremonially. They were viewed as the "outsiders" or the "others". Jesus not only welcomed them; He eats with them. He went out of His way to make them feel welcome. Even more of an offense was that Jesus was content to eat with them. Fellowship around the table in Jesus' time was more than just a meal. To eat with someone was a full acceptance of them and Jesus did exactly that.

His response to this criticism was in the form of three parables-all about those who were lost. The first parable is about sheep.

NOTE Jesus' high value for the lost sheep. Remember, Jesus is the physician who is looking for those who are sick. The 99 sheep have apparently already repented or changed their direction in life toward God. Therefore, they are not in any need of being found. They are safe and secure. The sheep that is lost must be sought out by the shepherd and this sheep becomes the most valuable of all.

Here's the bottom-line on this parable. Jesus is the shepherd whose mission is to find the lost sheep of our world and bring them back into relationship with himself and with the other sheep. That's salvation. This is an illustration of the fact that Jesus' search is relentless for those who are lost. He will do anything He has to do to find those who are lost.

Then there is a curious statement at the end of the parable. Jesus says that "there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine." So, "Come and rejoice with me." It's time for a party!

The lost sheep is a sinner and/or a tax collector, and the ninety-nine represent the righteous. This is the answer to the Pharisees who were grumbling about Jesus' welcoming tax collectors and sinners. You are happy for all your sheep. It is when one is threatened and may be injured or killed that causes you to worry and be concerned. So, you search and search until you find it. Then you are so thrilled that you naturally want to throw a little celebration.

What was Jesus doing hanging out and eating with the tax collectors and sinners? He was searching for lost sheep. This is what the kingdom of God is all about-looking for those who are lost and bringing them home. It was Jesus' primary mission and it's still His mission today. And, since seeking those who are lost is at the heart of Jesus, it ought to be on your heart, too.

So, who are you hanging out with? Now, it's vital that you hang out with a few in the name of Jesus. However, living in the kingdom also requires that you hang out with the lost. So, who ARE you hanging out with? To be like Jesus, think about hanging out with the tax collectors and sinners in your world-those who are the lost, the non-religious. I've found this to be some of the most rewarding encounters of my life. Try it. I think you'll like it.

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BEING A DISCIPLE

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Here we come to a most foundational segment of the teachings of Jesus in Luke 14:25-35. His popularity was growing immensely and yet Jesus knew that many are only spectators. So, Jesus turns to the large crowds and sets forth three requirements for being a disciple. Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even life itself-such a person cannot be my disciple.

The first is the requirement of PRIORITY. Jesus uses hyperbole a lot and it communicated with great impact. Here Jesus, known for His great love, isn't saying that you are to literally hate anyone. He is using an idiom of comparison. By comparison your devotion to Jesus ought to be so stark that it makes all other relationships look like hate. Jesus must be your number one priority over all relationships, including your own life.

The second is a difficult one. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

The second is the requirement of PERSEVERANCE. This is spoken a few other times in the teachings of Jesus. Another time Luke records Jesus saying that this action must be daily. This requirement is a bottom-line self-denial. "Discipleship means deliberately choosing to follow another person's way rather than making our own way." And, following Jesus may take some interesting twists and turns along the path. I think what this is saying is "Follow Me NO MATTER WHAT" may come-disappointment, discouragement, disease, disaster-NO MATTER WHAT I will follow Jesus. That's a tough one!

Jesus offers two parables to illustrate what this second requirement means. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'

"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won't he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. You must count the cost of following Jesus before jumping into this journey.

The third requirement is all-inclusive-POSSESSIONS. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. Jesus is not saying to "give over" to someone or something else, but this is renouncing ownership of your possessions. It's giving up everything. I recently read a teacher on this: "The distinctive property of disciples is the abandonment with which they put aside all competing securities in order that they might refashion their lives and identity to the norms of the kingdom of God."

The word "possessions" is so appropriate here. It's our possessions that too easily become a security blanket for us. However your possessions cannot provide the security you need to live most fully and can compete with your decision to follow Jesus and be His disciple. Possessions means all that you have and all that you are-your very existence. Jesus wants it all-no competing forces within your heart. He wants you fully to be a channel or a vessel of blessing and healing to the world. This cannot be accomplished by writing a check from time to time. It can only be accomplished as you are totally and completely given over to Him. This doesn't mean that you are to take a vow of poverty. This is about ownership and consultation. Jesus already owns all that you are and possess. And, Jesus is the only consultant you will ever need to run your life and your business.

Jesus now turns to a discussion of salt: "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

Salt was considered an essential of life. It was used both for flavoring and preservation. It is impossible for salt to lose its saltness, but it is possible for what appears to be salt to have all its true salt washed out of it. Then, even though the appearance remains, the essence is lost.

So, what's to be made of these words of Jesus? It seems that a disciple of Jesus can have miraculous impact upon his world, if he makes Jesus his number one priority, no matter what and renounces ownership of all he is and all he has. If you are able to follow these three requirements, then you will enjoy the dynamic of being salt in the world-a salt that is for preservation and flavoring. If you don't follow these requirements, then you will lose your saltiness and lose the possibility of being effective in your world. There is one more vital thing here. Jesus allows for no wiggle room. He doesn't say, "If you don't follow these requirements, YOU CANNOT BE MY GOOD DISCIPLE." "But you cannot be my disciple at all. It's pretty simple. You either are or you aren't a disciple of Jesus. The deciding factor remains with you. What are you going to do?

PARABLE OF A GREAT BANQUET

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After Jesus urged His Pharisee host to invite people to his table who cannot repay him, one of the guests replied to Jesus: When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed are those who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

Jesus answers this statement by sharing another parable. Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

NOTE that many were invited to the banquet. This is not to be a small group experience. Of those who were invited to the great banquet Jesus notes 3 excuses. The first one was in the real estate business. The second was in the cattle business. And the third was recently married. He lists only 3 of the excuses, but apparently there were many who rejected the invitation. It says, "But they all alike began to make excuses."

"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'

Not to come to a banquet where one had previously indicated acceptance was a serious breach of social etiquette. It was an insult to the host. To make an excuse after having initially accepted was an insult. The story Jesus tells seems to indicate that several made excuses for not coming. Some believe that in this situation there was a major conspiracy to shame the host. As "they all began to make excuses" it seems to be a unanimous rejection.

Each of the excuse makers offered lame excuses. The man who was in real estate bought land without even seeing it. The cattle rancher bought oxen without ever testing them out. And, the third was just married. The host of the banquet was very angry about this rejection and ordered that the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame be invited to come to the banquet. NOTE that these are the same people Jesus listed in the paragraph before this. They were truly those who couldn't repay the host.

NOTE what the servant's response was: "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

The original guest list was made up of the prominent people of the town. The second was to comb the entire town and pull everyone in to come to dinner. The third invitation was to invite those out in the rural areas, even the vagabonds and the strangers.

These people would have to be compelled to come, because it will push them outside their comfort levels. They were poor and they were being invited to come and join the rich man for dinner. The host did everything he could do to fill up his house for dinner. The primary meaning and application of this parable is that the host is God the Father, inviting the people of Israel to the banquet of the kingdom of God. Those who rejected the invitation were the Pharisees and other religious leaders. Those who were ultimately invited were the "unclean" and the non-religious.

There are five observations that readily appear in this story to me: 1. God offers the great feast of the kingdom to everyone. 2. The great feast is free to all who accept the invitation. 3. When the pompous, super-religious turn Him down, the banquet dinner is not cancelled, but advanced. The host (God the Father) will do everything possible to fill up His house. 4. The only thing that prevents anyone from eating this grand feast in the kingdom of God is the excuse they make. 5. Every excuse is a shell of a truth, stuffed with a lie. Each one was telling a truth, but each one was also a lie. The lie in this case is filled with the spirit of rejection. And this spirit of rejection was basically the act of living one's life separated from the gracious host who was offering this grand feast.

So, what are your excuses? What is it in your lifestyle that carries a spirit of rejection of what God may want from you? What is it in your life that keeps separating you from God? Whatever He is offering, you can count on it to be free and abundant.

JESUS AT A PHARISEE'S HOUSE

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Jesus always brought excitement to a dinner party! He was always an interesting guest, because He was very proactive in reaching out to the untouchables of society. He seems to wait for just the right situation, like healing someone on the Sabbath or interacting with a woman who was a sinner.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. NOTE Jesus was being watched very carefully. He was always under scrutiny. The wording here could be taken to mean they were lying in wait to trip Him up or to catch Him in some inaccuracy. Instead of putting Jesus on the examination table, the tables were turned on the Pharisees. They were the ones being examined.

There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?" But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way.

One of those attending the meal in the Pharisee's home is a man who is suffering from an abnormal accumulation of fluid in his body and therefore was swelling up. This was symptomatic of something more serious than a mere swelling problem. The Mosaic Law itself doesn't prohibit healing on the Sabbath, but the rabbinical traditions do.

It's interesting to note the wording here. Once Jesus had taken hold of the man, He healed him and "sent him on his way." This is the same wording as when Jesus healed the woman who was crippled and also on the Sabbath. It says there that He released her. That, I believe, is what is happening here. Jesus wasn't sending this man away, but providing for him a powerful release from his bondage.

Again, Jesus uses common sense to respond to their shock of His Sabbath healing: Then he asked them, "If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?" And they had nothing to say.

Then Jesus offers another parable. This time it has to do with how the Pharisaic community was striving for seats of honor. NOTE what Jesus says: When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this person your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

Jesus summarizes what He is saying here: For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Jesus now turns the attention toward another social issue that is affected by kingdom principles: Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Here's what He is saying. If you do something for a person, expecting something good in return, then you will not be blessed. However, if you invite people to a dinner where no one invited could possibly return this good gesture back to you, for that invitation you will be blessed. Jesus says that we ought to extend ourselves toward those who cannot possibly repay. This is the way of the kingdom. And, you will be blessed. Your repayment will come through at a future date, when Jesus comes back to resurrect us all.

The bottom-line? Jesus moves to the beat of a different drummer and expects those who follow Him to do the same. I recently was given a hint on how to walk, talk, think and love like Jesus. Here it is: Once you've decided to do something in a certain way, do the opposite from what you would naturally do and you'll most likely be walking with Jesus. Jesus is walking to a different drummer than the world. It's the beat of the kingdom. And He wants you and me to walk alongside Him, moving to that same beat.