Peasant Pits (Lost Sheep & Lost Coin)

I’ve got my Revelation pit vipers, my Middle Eastern pits, and now it’s time to get some peasant pits! Let’s go! 

The cultural setting of this chapter is incredible. Despite all that culture says about hosting people and eating with people, Jesus invites sinners to dine with him at his table. Not only does he feed us and give us everything we need to live, he invites us to get to know him and to have a personal relationship with him. “Jesus’ meals with the publicans and sinners are an expression of the mission and message of Jesus.” 

This all reminds me of John 21 where Jesus waits on shore with a hot breakfast for Peter. His simple invitation of “Come and have breakfast” is an invitation into sacrifice, suffering, joy, and abundant life that is in Jesus. Jesus has invited and received all of us dine with him, and this summer, I’m excited for these intimate little “charcoal moments” (as Reid calls them) with Jesus.

Burden (JOY) — Found(JOY)—Burden(JOY)—Restoration (JOY)

Both the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin, but especially the parable of the lost sheep reflect this unique structure. What stood out to me most was the joy present through the whole process. Upon the losing of a sheep, the shepherd would set out on a potentially long and life threatening journey to track it down, but would still find JOY in the hope of finding the sheep. Once the sheep was found, the shepherd would REJOICE! The sheep was found! But, the sheep still had to get home, which was an incredible burden that Bailey (and his shepherd friends) points out. Regardless of the physical toll that carrying the sheep all the way back home, the shepherd still finds JOY in the hope of restoration for the sheep to be back home. And once the sheep makes it home, there is incredible CELEBRATION as the shepherd, and the sheep, are both back to their families. Jesus calls us into the JOY that is a restored relationship with him, regardless of our burdens along the way

Bailey got me here “The sheep does nothing to prompt the shepherd to begin his search except to become lost. In the parable the shepherd finds the sheep. Then, in the conclusion to the parable, there is reported joy over the ‘one sinner who repents.’ Here ‘being found’ is equated with repentance.’ Thus the parable of the Lost Sets out a radically new understanding of the nature of repentance.” 

What an incredible reminder that the work is done. Jesus did it all on the cross. There is nothing we have to do. Nothing.


God loves us, enough to send Jesus to seek out sinners and call them into a deep, intimate relationship with Him. Such a crazy picture of unfailing love and incredible grace. 

 -Kyle R.

Comments

  1. Reid DelgadoFebruary 9, 2018 at 1:20 PM

    Kyle I am so glad you loved it! I thought you all might be a little bummed at the nerd factor of it all. I love how Jesus invites us to share a "meal" with him, which culturally is another way to say, "What's mine is yours!" Only to discover in the end the meal is His flesh and blood! Bazinga!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Steve MannFebruary 13, 2018 at 10:03 PM

    I felt encouraged and refreshed when I read your post and considered again (using Brennan Manning's words) the relentless tenderness of Jesus and His pursuit of wayward girls and boys (like me.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 1, 2018 at 9:39 AM

    Could not agree more Kyle that this quote stopped me in my tracks. The fact that the Father expects us to become lost--its in our nature-- and still chooses to find us.

    ReplyDelete

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