Luke 15   Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees and scribes because the tax-gatherers and  sinners came to Him and He received them.  This is the context of three parables:  the lost sheep; the lost coin; and the lost son. 

The lost sheep:  The man had 100 sheep and 1 was lost. This shepherd loved all his sheep, so he left the 99 in a safe place and went himself to find the one that was lost.  When he found it, he carried it home, rejoicing.  He even called his friends and neighbors together to celebrate with him. 

The lost coin:  The woman only had 10 silver coins. When she lost one she lit a lamp, swept the house and searched carefully until she found it.  Again, she rejoiced and celebrated with her friends and neighbors. 

Both of these parables end with  a similar statement from Jesus, "I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." 

The lost son:  This final parable is a bit more complicated.  The younger son of a "certain man" asked his father to give him his inheritance and let him go away.  In the Jewish law, the older son would get the majority of the inheritance.. so 2/3s and the younger would get 1/3. So the young man takes 1/3 of all his father has and basically throws it away on "loose living".  We know the story.. a famine comes to the land where he is, he takes a job feeding pigs; and he is starving to death.  He finally wakes up enough to remember his father's house and that even the servants in his father's house had food to eat. So, he humbles himself and heads home, willing to be a slave .. He knew he deserved nothing.  But.. when the father saw him coming he was overjoyed!  He "embraced him and kissed him".  He had a feast prepared to rejoice over his son who had been lost, but was now found. 

Then.. the older son came home from work.  He was not happy to see the younger son restored to his father. Even though the father loved him too.. even though he had stayed and worked for the father and would receive all that was the father's.. he had no love for the brother who had come home.  

This is the picture of the Pharisees and scribes. They had no love for "tax-gatherers and sinners".  They had no compassion, no mercy, no patience, and no joy that the lost were now found.  They wouldn't come to the party where there was rejoicing over those now back where they should have been the whole time - in the Father's Home.. in the Kingdom of God. 

Father in heaven, we have all been lost at some point in our lives, for we have all sinned and come short of Your glory.  Yet, You have made a way for us to return to You.. we belong to You.. and You came looking for us and have carried us home. Thank You Good Shepherd!  You sent the Light of the World to sweep through the whole earth to find those of us who were lost and You found us!  Thank You Lord! You rejoiced when we recognized the depths of our sin and hopelessness.. when You reminded us that we were made by You and belong to You and we returned to You... with repentance and humility.  Jesus, You came to save the lost and we praise Your holy name.  Thank You for the wonderful work of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord, in whose name we pray.   Father, we ask now in the mighty name of Jesus that You would send workers into Your harvest field.. to bring the lost sheep back to the Shepherd.  We pray that Your Light would shine through every believer so that the lost will be found and that heaven would rejoice. Father, speak to the hearts of the prodigal sons and daughters who have left their homes and squandered their lives.. and bring them back home. We give thanks and praise to You Father, for You hear our heart's prayers and the prayers of Jesus at Your right Hand even now. Amen.