Seeking the Lost

Luke 15. Jesus talks of three parables, three hypothetical stories, which show a shepherd, a lady, and a father losing and, in the end, finding what was lost: a single sheep out of 100; a silver coin; and a rebellious son.

These parables were in response to the Pharisees and others grumbling at how Jesus spent so much time with sinners. At the end of the first he explains how there would be more rejoicing by the angels in heaven over a single sinner who repents. At the end of the second, again, he says that there would be much joy at a sinner who repents. He doesn't say anything at the end of the third story, and this may be because the second son of the father was still lost and he was making a point, but I digress, I will not delve into this today. Feel free to read it for yourselves: http://www.esvbible.org/Luke+15/

The point though, to answer their question, is that Jesus spends time with sinners because he is trying to save them. Other passages he says this directly. In another conversation with the Pharisees in Luke 5:31-32 (also Mark 2:17; Matthew 9:12-13) he says "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Similarly in John 3:17 (after that famous verse) he says "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

In Luke 19:10 (also Matthew 18:11) speaking of himself he says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

I've heard this a number of times: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. As Isaiah 53 said, we have all gone astray and he came, was punished on our behalf, and by his wounds we may be healed and restored.

But what blew my mind the other day as I was reading the Bible is that this doesn't apply simply to Jesus, but also God the Father.

I was reading Genesis and found the first time God was seeking the lost: Genesis 3:9 "But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”" After Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit and went to hide God sought them out.

This only further shows me the truth that is recorded in John 10:30 "I and the Father are one". Hebrews 1:3a "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being". Col 1:15a "He is the image of the invisible God".

God has always been about the business of seeking and saving the lost since the very first disobedience, and from then he also promised the redemption through Christ in Genesis 3:15.

May He continue to seek and save the lost, opening eyes that we may all see His glory more, and making us new; restoring us in the image of God which He had made us in.

D.Fa