The extortionist tax collectors and prostitutes were all drawing near to hear him.  The religious grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”  So he told them this parable … . 

Jesus receives sinners.  He does not deny it.  The accusation by the religious was true.  Hence, their grumbling, judgment, sense of superiority, and jealousy.

Jesus’ response is to tell them “this parable.”  It is a single parable, expressed in three short stories about three finders:  a shepherd who finds his lost sheep; a woman who finds her lost silver coin, and a father who finds his lost son.

The shepherd finds his lost sheep.  The shepherd leaves his 99 other sheep who are not lost in open country and goes after his single lost sheep until he finds it.  He lays it on his shoulders rejoicing and brings it home.  He calls together his friends and neighbors, and says “come rejoice with me.”

There is no bleating by his sheep to summon the shepherd.  No finding by his sheep of its way back.  His sheep will stay lost until found by the shepherd.

The woman finds her lost silver coin.  The woman turns her focus from her nine other silver coins that are not lost, lights a lamp, sweeps the house, and searches diligently.  When she finds her lost coin, she calls together her friends and neighbors, and says “come rejoice with me.”

Her silver coin, an inanimate object, cannot find itself.  It cannot cry from the corner, “Over here!  Find me!  Find me!”  It cannot roll back to the woman.  It cannot shine a little brighter so as to be noticed in the dust.  It has absolutely no role whatsoever except to be found.

Jesus concludes these first two stories by proclaiming there is more rejoicing in heaven over a sinner who repents than one who needs no repentance.

The father finds his lost son.  The father’s son, empty and lost, heads toward home.  While his son is still a long way off, the father sees him, feels compassion toward him, runs to him, hugs him and kisses him.  His son’s lostness is spiritual and relational, not merely geographic.  It is the father who instantly closes both the geographical and relational gaps between him and his son.

The most his son hopes to ask for is not sonship, but only servanthood.  The son’s journey home is not the same thing as restoration.  He cannot cause or create restoration.  Until the father acts, his son will remain lost.

His son is no more able to fix his lostness than was the sheep or the silver coin.

His son sees things legalistically.  He had demanded his “share” of the inheritance.  He “hired” himself out to pig farmers.  The most he can imagine now is crusts of leftover bread from his father’s table by becoming a “hired” servant.  He wants to earn it.

The father has a different idea.  The father vastly exceeds the bread his son wants to earn by lavishing on him extravagant luxuries.  A ring, a grant of the father’s authority.  The best robe, imbuing the highest rank and status.  Shoes, worn only by the uppermost elite in that culture, and never by someone tromping around in a barnyard or by a laborer.  Choice veal, the consummate indulgence.  A sensational party, welcoming his son not only back to the father, but to the community.  Shame is dispelled by honor and a very public, lavish welcome.  Sonship itself.  And there is not one lick of work, earning or deserving any of it.  Quite the opposite.

It is not his son who grabs the ring of authority, the robe of status, the shoes of the elite, or the premium veal.  It is not his son who hosts a revelry.  Only the father can “find” his son, that is, restore the relationship.  The finding and restoration comes completely from the father’s initiative, willingness and action.

In all three stories, there is no judgment by the finder, but instead restoration and joy.  The sheep, the silver coin and the son are each highly valuable to its or his finder.  That high value motivates the finder to search vigorously, and produces sheer joy in the finding to be shared by all.

Come “draw near to hear him.”  Lost?  He will secure and find you.  A sinner?  He will forgive and receive you.  Relationship with him broken?  He will restore you and grant you dignity and honor.  Overwhelming so, and with great rejoicing and the most spectacular celebration.

That’s what he does.  That’s who he is.