The Gospel of Compelling Grace (2)

Three famous and moving parables the Lord told the Jews are found in chapter 15 of Luke. To people who say “I am a Pharisee, I am a theologian, and I am a teacher of the law” and who ignore tax collectors and sinners, Jesus tells this parable.

“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?” (Luke 15:4)

At that time, Jewish society raised sheep by naming each animal, just like raising their own children. Losing a sheep and finding it again was not just filling it up, but it was a joyous thing to call the locals and rejoice. The Lord substitutes this parable into the truth.

“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 15:7)

God said that if there were only 10 righteous people, the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah would stop. In chapter 5 of Jeremiah, God said that if only one righteous person was found in the streets of Jerusalem, the judgment against the land would stop. A righteous person before God goes beyond the concept of numbers. God speaks of great joy in the heart of the Lord.

How great would the joy be if there were 99 righteous people like Noah, Daniel, and David? However, if ‘you’ or ‘we’ are not seen, even though there is joy that 99 righteous people give, the heart of Heavenly Father, the owner of the kingdom of heaven, cannot be filled. Heavenly Father’s heart toward one soul is completely different from our cursed values, which count people by numbers and abilities. One person’s place cannot be filled with numbers. This is Heavenly Father’s heart and love.

But the Pharisees who hear this look at the Lord with dry eyes that are not touched at all. At this time, the Lord tells the second parable.

“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” (Luke 15:8)

At that time, it was not easy for a woman to have ten silver coins. It is also said that ten silver coins are hung on a necklace as a marriage contract. That’s why if you lose one out of ten, you sweep and search through the room until you find it.

“And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’” (Luke 15:9)

When the woman finds the coin, she calls her neighbor and rejoices. For others, it could be nothing much, but for the woman who had lost the coin, it was a great joy.

The Lord immediately substitutes the spiritual truth.

“In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

This means, ‘You have no interest in the heart of our Heavenly Father, who cherishes those whom you despise and do not count even.’ Still, there is no big emotion for them, so the Lord begins the story of a feast for the returned son.

Missionary Young-Ui KIM

(Itinerant Missionary Representative of LOG Mission)

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