Christ as the good shepherd
Cranach, Lucas, 1515-1586. Christ as the good shepherd, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57054 [retrieved September 9, 2022]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucas_Cranach_d.J._-_Christus_als_guter_Hirte_(Angermuseum).jpg.
The Seeker
Moyers, Mike. The Seeker, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57153 [retrieved September 9, 2022]. Original source: Mike Moyers, https://www.mikemoyersfineart.com/.
Exploring the Text: Parables of lost things
In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories about things that are lost, a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. This is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus repeats the same thing so many times in one sitting. What precipitated this was grumbling on the part of the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. They were complaining about Jesus spending time and eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds with these three parables.
These parables all share some similarities. First, there is something of great value that was lost, a sheep, a coin, and a son. Second, there was much concern for the lost thing. I the first two cases an all-out search ensued. In the third, the father is shown looking down the road for his lost son. Third, after the lost item was found, there was a great celebration.
Jesus tells these stories to emphasize how important lost people are to him and to the Father. God is passionate about bring lost people back to him. The primary theme of all of Scripture is that of God trying to rescue us back to himself. These is nothing he cares about more than this. That is why Jesus came and why he did what he did while he was here; he is all about rescuing those who are lost. It is this drive, this passion that brought us back to him. We were the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son that he searched for and found. But it doesn’t stop there. He is still looking for more, for more lost sheep, more lost coins, more lost sons, and he is asking us to help look for them. Thank God for rescuing you, but then ask who he would have you help look for next. Who is the next lost sheep, lost coin, or lost son that you can help come back to him?
In Luke 15, Jesus tells three stories about things that are lost, a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son. This is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus repeats the same thing so many times in one sitting. What precipitated this was grumbling on the part of the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. They were complaining about Jesus spending time and eating with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responds with these three parables.
These parables all share some similarities. First, there is something of great value that was lost, a sheep, a coin, and a son. Second, there was much concern for the lost thing. I the first two cases an all-out search ensued. In the third, the father is shown looking down the road for his lost son. Third, after the lost item was found, there was a great celebration.
Jesus tells these stories to emphasize how important lost people are to him and to the Father. God is passionate about bring lost people back to him. The primary theme of all of Scripture is that of God trying to rescue us back to himself. These is nothing he cares about more than this. That is why Jesus came and why he did what he did while he was here; he is all about rescuing those who are lost. It is this drive, this passion that brought us back to him. We were the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son that he searched for and found. But it doesn’t stop there. He is still looking for more, for more lost sheep, more lost coins, more lost sons, and he is asking us to help look for them. Thank God for rescuing you, but then ask who he would have you help look for next. Who is the next lost sheep, lost coin, or lost son that you can help come back to him?