In Luke 15:1–32, Jesus shows us a snapshot of the mission of God. In this story, with three parts, Jesus responds to some Pharisees and teachers of the law, who did not understand fully what the holiness of God meant, to show them who God is, how He operates, and what His heart feels.
As the scene of Luke 15 opens, Jesus is mingling with a group of people. The Bible is very intentional about describing this group. It says they were sinners and tax collectors. How would you like to spend the day with your government’s tax collectors? What if there were no rules about how they could separate you from your money? In Jesus’ time, tax collectors were the lowest of the low. Tax collectors would lie to you, cheat you, and even steal from you. No one liked them. Everyone avoided them. On this day, Jesus was interacting with them and various other outcasts. The religious leaders took note. Something about the way Jesus interacted with these folks upset them greatly. They sneered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them” (v. 2), basically saying, “He treats this filth like they’re old friends.” Jesus turns to them, and with words, points his finger at them. “Suppose one of you has a lost sheep” (v. 4). Jesus, focusing attention to their thoughts, was about to show them what God looks like.
Jesus lays out a story of a shepherd (Luke 15:3–7) who leaves the rest of his sheep to rescue one who is lost. He next gives an account of a woman who lost a precious coin and searched diligently to find it (Luke 15:8–10). Finally, He describes a father who waited and watched for his son who had disappeared from the safety of home and fell into hellish ruin (Luke 15:11–32). These stories have been taught and preached and exegeted as three separate depictions of God, but they are one story told from three angles, three views of the same attribute. Holiness.
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NEW JERSEY FOR JESUS CHRIST
Jonathan Olavarria serves as pastor of The Hub Church in Jersey City, New Jersey, a ministry of the Church of God of Prophecy since 2016. Jonathan has served in various ministry roles including summer camps, youth, children, Christian education, pastoral care, and evangelism. Pastor Jonathan is also a vice principal with Newark Public Schools. He and his wife, Noemi, have been married since 2012 and have been blessed with two sons, Adrian and Benjamin.
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