Dave spoke this morning from Luke 15, the chapter where Jesus tells three parables about lost things. The context for these parables was that many tax collectors and sinners were gathering around Jesus, to the disgruntlement of the Pharisees who felt that a religious teacher should be more ‘respectable’. Jesus wanted to correct these wrong attitudes and to show people that God wants to accept everyone and is truly glad when people repent and turn back to Him.
In the first parable, the shepherd loses one sheep and goes looking for the one lost sheep, bringing it home and rejoicing with his neighbours, throwing a party because what was lost has now been found. The woman’s response to finding the lost coin is similar. In the parable of the lost son, the father watches for his son’s return every day and throws a massive party when he does finally return. Jesus told us that there is celebration in heaven when one sinner repends.
God weeps over those who reject Him (see Jer 13:7 and how Jesus wept over Jerusalem in Luke 10) and longs for people to return to Him. Is 62:5 reminds us that as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so God takes delight in and rejoices over us. Zeph 3:17 reminds us that the Father sing songs over us. So often, we think of God as stern and unwelcoming, but nothing could be further from the truth. He is full of joy and is a God who longs to include us. The party celebrations will truly be something to behold!