The Search

We’ve spent a couple of weeks talking about the faults of Jonah and how we can, unfortunately, share the same sin. So I thought it would be a good idea to look a little deeper into the story of Jonah and try to explore more fully what God does and how God feels about us.

We mentioned that God has hope, but Jonah is unwilling to share that hope. I wonder how far is God willing to go. Do we worship a God that is willing to risk everything for just one? Or is God willing to sacrifice a few to save the many?

Who here has ever lost anything? One big support group. Who here wishes their remote control had a beeper on it? The 5 cars…

If we looked that hard for a remote or a few cars or your keys or cell phone or whatever you may have lost, do you think God looks even more passionately for just one of us when we are lost? Let’s take a look at Luke 15 for some Good News this morning.

Luke 15
1Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

What were they saying? Guilt by association-if he eats with sinners, sinners for disciples, associates with sinners-must be a sinner.
What did Jonah not want to do?
Who does Jesus want to be with?

These next 3 stories are told in response to the Pharisees condemnation.  Stories speak of God’s search for sinners… People invite division while God invites unity amidst our diversity. We feel better when we have things categorized, but God doesn’t work that way. God looks at the whole and no one is left out
Are you more like Jonah or Jesus?

The 2 parables we’re going to look at have Old Testament references to the original covenant.

3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Throwback to a ancient story about Moses-tending flock of Jethro, one kid escaped, went after it, found it, and put it up on his shoulders.

The Parable of the Lost Coin
 8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Women would receive 10 coins as a wedding gift. Jesus as the bridegroom imagery and a reference to the original covenant on Mt. Sinai. The covenant in the desert was like a marriage.

These are very important parables because I believe they are meant to convey the heart of Jesus’ mission. His own description of what he hoped to accomplish. Each one is linked by a common story, theme, and meaning. (slide)
    Lost sheep, lost coin, prodigal son
    Shepherd, woman, father
    99 sheep, 9 coins, 1 jealous son

There’s a few questions that come to my mind regarding these stories.

1) How does God know when we are lost? Well how do we know when we’ve lost something? When we miss its presence in our lives. Lord of the Rings-Gollum is always looking for precious and he’ll stop at nothing to get precious, and in the end he is willing to give his life for the ring. Sound familiar? Tolkein was a Christian.

2) How do you approach an animal separated from the flock or herd? Do you run in screaming and yelling? A group is much easier to move, but when you are chasing the one it can go any which way-even right back at you. When you approach an animal you do it calmly, tenderly, and with mercy. Jesus approaches us the same way when we are lost-tenderly and with mercy.

3) Are you worth searching for? Jonah didn’t believe the Ninevites were worth saving, but God did.
So I ask again, do you believe that you are worth searching for? I would venture to guess there are people who have never pondered that question and another group who truly don’t believe they are worthy.

To the first group I want to say don’t take your salvation so lightly and to the second group I’m here to tell you that you are worthy.
Addicts: Trust is broken-the people are uncertain when they return, but not God.
When we come back God always trusts.

This is the meaning of the stories. When you sin, Jesus comes looking for you because the other 99 sheep or 9 coins don’t need to repent. Jesus is desperately searching for what is lost…willing to risk it all for you..and in the end what happens?

The friends and neighbors rejoice and celebrate. What would those people represent? the angels rejoicing in heaven. Can you imagine what that must be like when we are found, when we return that all of heaven is rejoicing?

We may be able to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy. But a God who tenderly searches for sinners and then joyfully forgives them must possess an extraordinary love. This is the kind of love that prompted Jesus to come to earth to search for lost people and save them. This is the kind of extraordinary love that God has for you. If you feel far from God, don’t despair. God is searching for you.

When you are at your lowest, when you have wondered so far off from God or anything to do with God-God is right there and more than being there with you, God is searching passionately and lovingly for you.
That my friends is the Good News of Jesus Christ…are you sharing in it?