This chapter just might be my favorite chapter in the whole bible. I love the stories that Jesus tells, but even more, my heart is drawn to the first two verses of this chapter.
By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. 2 The Pharisees and religion scholars were not pleased, not at all pleased. They growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.”
Throughout Luke, we have been challenged to answer the question of who this Jesus is that we claim to follow. In the first two verses, Luke tells us something very significant about this man and his kingdom. As always, I have to measure who I am against who I see Jesus to be, and make the necessary adjustments. Luke tells us that Jesus' following is getting larger and that there are a "lot" of men and women of "doubtful reputation" following Jesus. Tax collectors were in the mix as well as other "sinners." The separation that God called his people to in the Old Testament had been taken to an unwanted extreme by the Pharisees and Jesus turns the table on them when he comes. Not only do they follow him, but Jesus welcomed those who were "doubtful" and shared the table with them. These are not merely casual relationships that Jesus had. He did not just say hi, when they went out to get their mail. He didn't just have small talk while they checked him out at the grocery store. He wasn't just nice to them when they waited on his table at the local restaurant. The fact that he welcomed them and ate with them indicates a much deeper relationship.
But I was always told that bad company corrupts good morals? Why didn't they corrupt Jesus? Yes, Jesus was Jesus and his will and his commitment and his discipline were much greater than mine, but if I am going to follow his lead, shouldn't my life be marked in similar ways? Not once (in my readings of Jesus' life) did I hear him call for a boycott of any business because the owners didn't believe the way he believed. Not one time did I hear him encourage him to not speak to neighbors because they were doing things that did not honor God. Not one time do I hear him recommending one route because there are "sinners" on that road. But many times, I hear of him welcoming the unwelcomed. I want to be that way!
Jesus tells three stories to help his listeners understand why he "takes in sinners and eats meals with them." Each one might be considered stories of lostness...or even found-ness. I believe he wants us to know these are stories of rejoicing. Yes, the owner/father in each story moves heaven and earth just to find what was lost, but check out the last phrase of each story.
- Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue. v7
- Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God. v10
- this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’ v32
Incredible! If you are a parent, there is a good chance that you know what it's like to lose something, even a child. Maybe in a mall, at a ballpark or even in the neighborhood. You know the ecstasy that is felt when you see that child after he/she has been lost. We all know the joy of finding something that we have misplaced. We get that. The question that pops out of this chapter is, "Do you understand the depth of celebration that leads to 'taking in sinners and eating meals with them.'?"
How amazing would it be to be a church of people who are so wrapped up in the celebration of the found that we are moved to extraordinary hospitality to those around us. We are so consumed by the reuniting that we stop at no ends to see the unloved be loved, the unwelcomed welcomed. What a challenge and what a calling we have.
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