Tonight's blog for Tuesday, April 30, 2013

When reading one of the parables of Jesus, there is certainly a danger to be found by trying to define the details

too specifically. As Mark Moore, in our adult bible study videos taught us, we also have to be careful to discover only those details that could have been possible or available to the first readers or hearers. Our first examination of any text is to discover the A.I.M. , remember? The Author's Intended Meaning or, if it is a speech or a teaching, then we must discover what the Speaker really wanted to say to HIS listeners. The second examination of the text should be to compare the style of material or speaking with other material. The third examination of the text should be to allow context to highlight any specific teachings. How do we do that ? By comparing the parables that are linked together by the collector of the material, Dr. Luke, and by the speaker of the words. 

Luke 15, again tonight, draws me into the web of worshippers of Jesus, who see His wisdom, grace and gentleness. Please read the three parables again, and notice the flow of the action. Who moves? Who seeks? Who or what is lost? First of all, Who moves in each of these parables? The first parable is obvious, it is the lost lamb, right? Wait, there is movement by the "shepherd" who leaves the 99 in the open country. He goes, seeking the lost lamb. An amazing detail to me is that HE, the GOOD shepherd, breaks every rule of "good shepherding" and seeks the lost one. Doesn't HE know statistics? Doesn't HE understand playing the odds? Aren't you better off with 99 "birds" in the hand than one "in the bush" even if you are talking about sheep? Having read the "horrible" logic of John 3:16, GOD not only sent His Son, Jesus, He is proof today of the logic of seeking the Lost rather than hanging on to the "already owned". 

At first reading, Luke 15 ends with a much longer, and much more specific parable that seems to contradict the parable of the lost lamb. In this parable, the lost "lamb" is a prodigal son. He comes to his senses, and starts to practice his "I'm sorry" speech. The dad of this story doesn't pursue the son, doesn't cable him some money, or send a servant with cash. No, the hero of the parable of the two lost sons is waiting at home, where he can be near the "lost elder son" who will be completely tested by the return of his brother. I don't know if "Dad" was somewhere half way between the two lost sons, but I bet He could be found by both at any moment. When the younger, more obviously lost son started back, then and only then did Dad go running, and hugging, and forgiving. Amazing. 

Oh, by the way, as I finish my thoughts for the night, so I can watch the Detroit Tigers play baseball, I have called attention to some details of these three parables, but, remember there is only one Meaning, and here it is: "if you are lost, whether a pharisee or a tax collector or any other kind of Sinner, GOD loves you." Each parable adds some richness to that thought. Here is one more observation. Each parables ends with someone or something being found and with the very real "foundness" there is a party, a celebration. NO, you may not experience that party spirit every day, but we dare not forget how important it is heaven to see our walk with Christ as a celebration of life, of love, and of the joy in heaven when one of us slugs finally get found!  

GOD, bless us to so we can remember what it was like when we were lost, and so we can remember how much it cost you to find us! big marv