On Matthew 13:34 the writer posits that The Greatest Teacher, Jesus always used illustration stories, named parables to teach a complex concept into an easy-to-understand lesson. Such application fulfilled the prophecy by Isaiah: to reveal redemption’s secrets kept prior to Creation. For instance, in Luke 15, Jesus gave the followers three parables:
(1) The Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus was dining with a group of sinners, among them tax collectors. The teachers and Pharisees, who supposed to know the writings of Isaiah criticized Jesus for associating and eating with them. In this story Jesus expects the audience to reason for themselves, applying common notions and their imagination, to cognate and elicit understanding of the Salvation Plan, empathy, and development:
4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15: 4-7).
Qs: What did you understand of the role of the shepherd in action and outcome? Did the sheep know that was lost? Could the sheep save itself and find the way home?
Moral of the Story 1:
At one time I was that sheep, lost in the highways and byways of modern society. Consumed with fear, anxieties, burdens, and subject to danger, destruction, and death. Our savior left His fold and safety of His Kingdom in Heaven to rescue me, you, and everyone who wants to partake of the safety and love of Our Shepherd’s arms. He did it all. All that remains is our decision to accept His grace and invitation to live safely, eternally, under the banner of His Kingdom of Love.
(2) The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15: 8-10).
Qs: What did you understand of the role of the lady’s action and outcome? Did the coin know that was lost? Could the coin save itself and find the way back to the righteous lady’s possession? What meaning do you find in the notion that there are other intelligent beings in audience celebrating each time a sinner repents?
Moral of the Story 2:
The lost coin, like when I was lost, required an external plan of redemption, power of exertion, and physical intervention to be searched and found. Each of us can become such physical interventionist to help Our Lord to find the lost, by sharing our testimony and Our Savior’s living redemptive Words and beautiful promises.
(3) The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So, he divided his property between them…set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father … “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. No longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So, they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So, his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never even gave me a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found (Luke 15: 11-32).’”
Qs: What do you think is the purpose and meaning of this story? Was the youngest son forced to return to his father’s home, or did he have to reason about his circumstances and weigh his options? What gave him reason to come back? Could you identify yourself with either son? Was the oldest faithful son understanding of his father’s outreaching efforts and acts of kindness, or did his father have to explain?
In reality, several lessons may be found in this emotive parable story. Main lesson point is Our Heavenly Father’s grace (granting an unmerited favor from God, like salvation of sinners and showers of blessings). Also, grief caused to a beloving father upon his younger son’s departure from the family fold; turned into pardon, reconciliation, and joy. As a side outcome, the father must communicate His reasoning with his oldest and faithful son, to reconcile the youngest to his household and the oldest member of the family.
Moral of the Story 3:
Our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally. Although He made the choice of redeem us, He respects our free will agency. He will never force our will. Each of us must exercise our right of choosing (go back with our loving Creator or stay lost, subject to destruction and death). Likewise, He deployed His will, power, and choice intervention to save the lost sheep (our human race that do not know that was lost or unable to find the way back to Our Father’s home and fold of safety.
Family dynamics on earth 1.0 falls short of God’s glory: Parents should love and keep the door of communication open, with their lost children or other family members. Pray for them and enable an intervention to reach them, but don’t force them. Love is stronger than any other force or power. Siblings’ rivalry is an old theme. Perhaps, we all need to pray for tolerance and patience, prior to judging others, as we all have fallen short from God’s grace (Hebrews 12:15; Romans 3: 23).
The lost needs intervention, not cajoling. The lost needs empowering knowledge, love, options, and moral support, when their plans are curtailed with sin, addictions, and despair. Forgiveness is liberating for the lost and exuberance to our heavenly family. All thanks to the loving choice our Creator made to create us, redeem us, and sustain us. He did it all, all we must do is exercise our freewill. Let’s choose wisely.
Today we can become a better version than yesterday. Also, lets become compassionate with those fallen short of God’s glory. Both sons represent humanity. Some have been faithful to God, for ages, whereas others may have gotten lost with doubts, circumstances, or lifestyle choices. Yet, once they reconcile with Our Father, there should be unity in His family. We must grant them favor, like our God does, as His Love is everlasting as demonstrated in Matthew 22: 37-40. Jesus exercised and encouraged all to practice grace, patience, and love with others (e.g., children, siblings, other saints going like us through the process of sanctification, in our journey to our Father’s Home). United we can rejoice and give thanks to our Heavenly Father for forgiving our own shortcomings, as the Apostle Peter said: Love covers multitude of sins (1 Peter 4: 8).
References
Brown, A.D.A (2021). The Lost Son. Doctrine.org
The Holy Bible (NIV; KJV). https://www.biblegateway.com
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