Jesus teaches us how much God loves us in the parable of the lost sheep. (Luke 15:4-6) The parable demonstrates our significant worth to God. As the shepherd pursued the sheep, God pursues us because He loves us. He considers us worthy to be pursued. Jesus made clear, when we turn to Him and believe, our Heavenly Father celebrates because what was lost has been found! Think about this: God celebrates when we repent and believe in Jesus.
The word repent is not commonly used today but its expression is. Repent means, “to change ones mind” about something. When we repent we are simply changing our mind about God. God’s pursuit of us demonstrates His great love for us. That truth changed my mind about Him when He found me at a music festival in Eastern Pennsylvania in 1997. The kindness of God—His grace, goodness, and love—leads us to change our minds about Him. That’s repentance. It’s clear, Jesus wanted both men and women to know God loved them and wanted them to be in His eternal family.
Jesus reinforces His teaching by sharing about a woman and a lost coin.
“Or what woman who has ten silver coins,, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost!’ I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-10 CSB
The parable of the lost sheep definitely caught the men and boys attention in the crowd since most would have had experience as a shepherd. Now Jesus turns to the women. He shares this parable to, again, demonstrate God’s love and care for lost people but the fact He used a woman as the main character in a teaching would have, most likely, shocked the crowd. Women were mostly ignored in Jesus day and would have certainly not been included in a parable.
The late pastor and theologian Warren Wiersbe helps us understand how this parable connects to Jesus’ audience.
“When a Jewish girl married, she began to wear a headband of ten silver coins to signify that she was now a wife. It was the Jewish version of our modern wedding ring, and it would be considered a calamity for her to lose one of those coins. Palestinian houses were dark, so she had to light a lamp and search until she found the lost coin; and we can imagine her joy at finding it.”
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 234). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Have you ever lost something precious to you and found it after looking desperately? Remember how that feels? It’s powerful! It’s like the pressure built up in a shaken coke bottle, it will explode when opened! The woman in the parable could not contain her joy. She had to share it! God feels the same when we turn to Him, repent, and believe!
Notice the care the woman put into the search. Look again at verse 8: “Does (she) not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?” God looks all over the earth searching for those who will repent and believe in Him. He is careful and persistent in His search. He will be successful in finding what has been lost.
When our Heavenly Father finds what was lost He rejoices and invites all of Heaven to join Him! We call that a party! There is a party in Heaven when people change their mind about God (repent) and believe in Jesus.
Let’s make it personal. God, your Heavenly Father, loves you and celebrates over you when you repent and believe in Jesus. His joy cannot be contained as He invites all of Heaven to join Him in His celebration when you become part of His family through faith in Jesus.
Jesus shows us the Father’s heart. The Father’s heart is to find what was lost and return it to its rightful place. If you’ve sensed God pursuing you as you read these words, consider what He’s done for you. He sent Jesus to live, die, and be resurrected for you so you could receive new life in Him. If you’re not sure what that means read this post. All that’s required is for you to change your mind about God and believe in Jesus. Realize the depth of His love for you. Recognize God wants you to be in His family. Believe in Jesus and receive the new life He has for you.
You are infinitely loved and valued.
-PB