Luke 15:1-10
1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him,
2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 So to them he addressed this parable.
4 "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?
5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.'
7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
8 "Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it?
9 And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.'
10 In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
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We love to hear stories of redemption - of people who were defeated in some way or another, and rose from the ground to begin their lives anew. This nation was built in large part on redemption, on people fleeing whatever situation they were in to build a better life. The American Dream is redemption in a nutshell.
The parable in this passage tells us why we love redemption so much. It was written on our hearts by our creator. He loves redemption. He loves redemption so much that he sent his only son to us to do what we had no hope of doing for ourselves. He loves redemption so much that he searches carefully to find the lost, and he rejoices when the lost are found.
He loves redemption so much that he offers it to us over and over throughout our lives. We are sinners. We go astray. When we repent and return to Him, we are redeemed again.
I don't often think of the Lord as rejoicing, but this parable makes it clear. He celebrates when his children return to Him. Can you imagine, the Lord celebrating? I wonder what that looks like?
Do you want to make our Lord rejoice? Do you want to make angels sing in thanksgiving and praise? Do you want to be part of a heavenly celebration?
Walk into the confessional, and return to your Lord.
