Levels of lost

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. – Luke 15:20b

A cursory reading of Luke 15 might leave the impression that it’s one story told in three different ways: God looks for lost things; Jesus gave three examples of that, hoping one or another of the versions might strike a chord with His audience. But let’s take a closer look….

While something of value has gone missing in each parable, the relative scarcity of the missing items is increasing. Though all the lost things are missed, the urgency to restore them to their rightful place seems to grow with each story.

For the lost sheep, the shepherd has lost one percent of a renewable resource. Presumably, the flock will continue to multiply and there will eventually be more sheep. But in shades of the good shepherd in John 10, every lamb counts, no matter the size of the flock.

For the lost coin, the woman has lost ten percent of an asset that is finite and NOT replenishable. Recovering the coin becomes priority one. She will forgo sleep and tenaciously expend effort and resources to get the coin back.

For the lost son, a father has lost fifty percent of his offspring, his own flesh and blood. Though he still has one son at home, his sense of loss is immeasurable. He pines away, hoping and praying his son will come back.

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. –Luke 19:10 (NIV)

Now let’s consider the circumstances under which the items get lost, which dictate the methods by which they will be found.

The sheep wanders off carelessly, with no malice, but then realizes it does not know where it is and has no idea how to get back to safety. It didn’t mean to be lost, but now has an awareness of its lostness. The shepherd, knowing and caring for the sheep, ensures the safety of the 99, then goes after this single lost sheep with purpose and sympathy.

The coin has no awareness. It’s a coin! Maybe it fell off the table, rolled under the bed, and fell into a crack between the floor and the wall. It has no thought of that event and possesses no preference regarding its current location or condition. The woman knows the coin is there somewhere, and will “turn the house upside-down” on a relentless mission to find it.

The son walks away in defiance and rebellion. He treats as nothing the blessings of love, protection, and provision which he enjoyed in his father’s house. Though it likely takes everything he has inside to let the boy go and not chase after him, the father – always watching, always loving, never forgetting – waits for the son to “come to his senses” (Lk 15:17).

Three very different stories, one point. If you are lost, God knows it. He’s missing you. More than that, He’s looking for you, though the form that takes will depend on how you went missing and where you are now. Each parable ends the same way, with celebration. There was one loose end that Jesus did not tie up, probably because the Pharisees and lawyers He was addressing would determine the final ending: Did the older brother come in to join in the celebration or was he being lost just as his brother was being found?

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate. –Luke 15:24 (NIV)