#19 - Lost Sheep?
<<< BIBLE CHAPTER SECTIONS >>>
(Referred to in this weeks "Come Follow Me")
Lk 12- Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees - have no fear - Acknowledge Christ before men - Parable of rich fool - be not anxious - you must be ready - not peace but division - interpreting the time - settle with your accuser
Lk 13- Repent or perish - Parable of barren fig tree - woman with disabling spirit - Mustard seed and the Leaven - the narrow door - Lament over Jerusalem
Lk 14- Healing a man on the Sabbath - parable of the wedding feast - Parable of great banquet - The Cost of Discipleship - Salt without taste is worthless
Lk 15- Parable of Lost Sheep - Parable of the Prodigal Son
Lk 16- Parable of Dishonest Manager - The Law and the Kingdom of God - Divorce and remarriage - Rich man and Lazarus
Lk 17- Temptations to sin - increase our faith - Unworthy servants - Jesus cleanses ten lepers - the coming of The Kingdom
Jn 11- Death of Lazarus - I AM the Resurrection and the Life - Jesus wept - Jesus raises Lazarus - Plot to kill Jesus -
Read the chapters yourself then…
watch the Bible Project videos on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Neil Evans COMENTS:
These chapters cover a lot of Jesus’ teachings and interactions with people who, for various reasons, were attracted to Him. Generally speaking the people are in three distinct categories: His sincere followers, curious observers, and His enemies. Interestingly the passages chosen for this week begin and end with Jesus’ enemies. It begins with Jesus warning His followers to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” There is deadly, growing influence of the self-righteous religious leaders who challenged Jesus’ identity and mission. But Jesus warned that the Devil not the hypocrites was the one to truly fear. The section ends with the Religious Leaders seeking to arrest and kill Jesus.
Sandwiched in between are lots of stories about Jesus’ interaction with various people who were seeking to know who Jesus really was and what He was really doing. It could be called a “lost and found” section.
The whole life of Jesus, from beginning to end, is clearly built on the idea that Jesus is someone Who is and has what is needed by people. There is something lacking, missing, wrong with people that Jesus Christ is uniquely, solely qualified and able to supply or fix. Some people recognized that their lives were somehow needy in one way or another. Others believed their lives were just fine, and in fact examples for others to follow. Most people were sort of in the middle, rather satisfied with themselves but recognizing that there were things that weren’t quite right. And thus, Jesus came, claiming to be the Giver of Life, to lost and dying people. Understandably this claim was welcomed by some, and questioned and criticized by others. For someone to say that everyone else is lost in need of being found, and that He was the very one to do the finding, is an audacious claim indeed.
Each of the events in this section address how people deal with their lostness, and how Jesus claims to be their finder. The Religious Leaders obviously didn’t think they were lost but believed they were the ones whom others should follow out of their lostness by keeping the religious rules as they were so carefully doing. This hypocrisy was clear to everyone but themselves. Personal blindness was not a problem limited to religious leaders. The rich man was blind to the insufficiency of his temporary possessions. Those people who made excuses to not attend a great feast were blind to the extravagant gift of the host. The selfish son was blind to both the lavishness of his father and the emptiness of his own desires. The unjust steward was blind to the fact that his own shrewdness was incomparable to the potential grace of his master. The rich man who died was blind to the eternal gulf between good and evil that only the mercy of God could span.
One of the results of my being lost is my blindness that is of the same kind and consequence of each of the people in these parables Jesus told. I tend to think my possessions (wealth, health, family, etc.) are the primary blessings and securities of my life. I tend to give my agenda the priority of my attentions. I tend to not live like there really is a day coming when the destinies of myself and the people I love will be eternally fixed. I am a religious leader who tends to think that my religious behaviors are what put me in good standing with God. My lostness is not merely being blind or temporarily off track, but involves completely going in the wrong direction, not humbly admitting that I need God to wholly forgive, redeem and transform me.
All these parables and stories of lostness ought to prompt us all to face the Biblical facts that there are “none righteous,” (Rom 3:10) we were all “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3) are “dead in our sin,” (Eph 2:5) “have no hope without God,” (Eph 2:12) and “because of our hard and impenitent hearts are storing up wrath for ourselves on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Rom 2:5) It is in this context that Jesus describes our blind lostness and most importantly seeks to draw our attention to the One Who has come to Find us, set us Free, to give us LIFE.
Jesus is a unique Finder. To the smallest, the most unnoticed, the most undeserving, Jesus gives His full attention and effort. He does not merely point us in the right direction, but transforms us, opens our blind heart, indeed He forgives us and gives us the full inheritance of Himself, all profoundly by His mercy. This is the amazing Grace of the healing Jesus provides for us. Sadly, much of the time I am more interested in the physical, material blessings and healings God powerfully gives me than I am in The One Who has found, forgiven and healed me.
When, beside the grave of Lazarus, Jesus said to Martha: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life…” I wonder why He did not say: “The Father is the Resurrection and the Life?” Why is there a clear distinction between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet such an interchangeability between them? Why are they described in the Bible as each being so vitally involved in all the interactions between God and men? Could it be that they are One God as the Bible clearly proclaims? Could it be that they are each a full part of our redemption, of our new and eternal LIFE? Could it be that, seeking to help us see and know the Beyond-Amazing GOD, HE became one of us so that even when we were dead in our sin, He died to pay the penalty of our sin and satisfy the wrath of God for our proud and blind rebellion. He came looking for me even when I did not want to be found. He gave me His inheritance even when I did nothing to deserve it. He gave me His Life when I lay hopelessly dead in my sin.
For the blasphemy of His claims to be the Good Shepherd Who gives His Life for His Sheep, those who proudly claimed they were neither lost nor needed to be found, they made their plans to arrest and remove this One Who was attracting such unwelcome and foolish attention. It is in the very times I feel no need of being found that I am most lost. Thank you God, that You relentlessly offer Yourself to me.
(Referred to in this weeks "Come Follow Me")
Lk 12- Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees - have no fear - Acknowledge Christ before men - Parable of rich fool - be not anxious - you must be ready - not peace but division - interpreting the time - settle with your accuser
Lk 13- Repent or perish - Parable of barren fig tree - woman with disabling spirit - Mustard seed and the Leaven - the narrow door - Lament over Jerusalem
Lk 14- Healing a man on the Sabbath - parable of the wedding feast - Parable of great banquet - The Cost of Discipleship - Salt without taste is worthless
Lk 15- Parable of Lost Sheep - Parable of the Prodigal Son
Lk 16- Parable of Dishonest Manager - The Law and the Kingdom of God - Divorce and remarriage - Rich man and Lazarus
Lk 17- Temptations to sin - increase our faith - Unworthy servants - Jesus cleanses ten lepers - the coming of The Kingdom
Jn 11- Death of Lazarus - I AM the Resurrection and the Life - Jesus wept - Jesus raises Lazarus - Plot to kill Jesus -
Read the chapters yourself then…
watch the Bible Project videos on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Neil Evans COMENTS:
These chapters cover a lot of Jesus’ teachings and interactions with people who, for various reasons, were attracted to Him. Generally speaking the people are in three distinct categories: His sincere followers, curious observers, and His enemies. Interestingly the passages chosen for this week begin and end with Jesus’ enemies. It begins with Jesus warning His followers to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” There is deadly, growing influence of the self-righteous religious leaders who challenged Jesus’ identity and mission. But Jesus warned that the Devil not the hypocrites was the one to truly fear. The section ends with the Religious Leaders seeking to arrest and kill Jesus.
Sandwiched in between are lots of stories about Jesus’ interaction with various people who were seeking to know who Jesus really was and what He was really doing. It could be called a “lost and found” section.
The whole life of Jesus, from beginning to end, is clearly built on the idea that Jesus is someone Who is and has what is needed by people. There is something lacking, missing, wrong with people that Jesus Christ is uniquely, solely qualified and able to supply or fix. Some people recognized that their lives were somehow needy in one way or another. Others believed their lives were just fine, and in fact examples for others to follow. Most people were sort of in the middle, rather satisfied with themselves but recognizing that there were things that weren’t quite right. And thus, Jesus came, claiming to be the Giver of Life, to lost and dying people. Understandably this claim was welcomed by some, and questioned and criticized by others. For someone to say that everyone else is lost in need of being found, and that He was the very one to do the finding, is an audacious claim indeed.
Each of the events in this section address how people deal with their lostness, and how Jesus claims to be their finder. The Religious Leaders obviously didn’t think they were lost but believed they were the ones whom others should follow out of their lostness by keeping the religious rules as they were so carefully doing. This hypocrisy was clear to everyone but themselves. Personal blindness was not a problem limited to religious leaders. The rich man was blind to the insufficiency of his temporary possessions. Those people who made excuses to not attend a great feast were blind to the extravagant gift of the host. The selfish son was blind to both the lavishness of his father and the emptiness of his own desires. The unjust steward was blind to the fact that his own shrewdness was incomparable to the potential grace of his master. The rich man who died was blind to the eternal gulf between good and evil that only the mercy of God could span.
One of the results of my being lost is my blindness that is of the same kind and consequence of each of the people in these parables Jesus told. I tend to think my possessions (wealth, health, family, etc.) are the primary blessings and securities of my life. I tend to give my agenda the priority of my attentions. I tend to not live like there really is a day coming when the destinies of myself and the people I love will be eternally fixed. I am a religious leader who tends to think that my religious behaviors are what put me in good standing with God. My lostness is not merely being blind or temporarily off track, but involves completely going in the wrong direction, not humbly admitting that I need God to wholly forgive, redeem and transform me.
All these parables and stories of lostness ought to prompt us all to face the Biblical facts that there are “none righteous,” (Rom 3:10) we were all “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.” (Titus 3:3) are “dead in our sin,” (Eph 2:5) “have no hope without God,” (Eph 2:12) and “because of our hard and impenitent hearts are storing up wrath for ourselves on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Rom 2:5) It is in this context that Jesus describes our blind lostness and most importantly seeks to draw our attention to the One Who has come to Find us, set us Free, to give us LIFE.
Jesus is a unique Finder. To the smallest, the most unnoticed, the most undeserving, Jesus gives His full attention and effort. He does not merely point us in the right direction, but transforms us, opens our blind heart, indeed He forgives us and gives us the full inheritance of Himself, all profoundly by His mercy. This is the amazing Grace of the healing Jesus provides for us. Sadly, much of the time I am more interested in the physical, material blessings and healings God powerfully gives me than I am in The One Who has found, forgiven and healed me.
When, beside the grave of Lazarus, Jesus said to Martha: “I AM the Resurrection and the Life…” I wonder why He did not say: “The Father is the Resurrection and the Life?” Why is there a clear distinction between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, yet such an interchangeability between them? Why are they described in the Bible as each being so vitally involved in all the interactions between God and men? Could it be that they are One God as the Bible clearly proclaims? Could it be that they are each a full part of our redemption, of our new and eternal LIFE? Could it be that, seeking to help us see and know the Beyond-Amazing GOD, HE became one of us so that even when we were dead in our sin, He died to pay the penalty of our sin and satisfy the wrath of God for our proud and blind rebellion. He came looking for me even when I did not want to be found. He gave me His inheritance even when I did nothing to deserve it. He gave me His Life when I lay hopelessly dead in my sin.
For the blasphemy of His claims to be the Good Shepherd Who gives His Life for His Sheep, those who proudly claimed they were neither lost nor needed to be found, they made their plans to arrest and remove this One Who was attracting such unwelcome and foolish attention. It is in the very times I feel no need of being found that I am most lost. Thank you God, that You relentlessly offer Yourself to me.
Check out these LINKS:
Watch Bible Project video about Matthew
Watch Bible Project video about Mark
Watch Bible Project video about Luke
Watch Bible Project video about John
Read "Bible Words to Ponder" related to this week study
Read "The Gospel"