ON THE ROAD TO THE CROSS - PART 3
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: Friend of Sinners
Main Scripture: Luke 15:1-32
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
On the road to the cross, Jesus spent time ministering to all kinds of people from all walks of life. Jesus’ mission was to seek and to save the lost and according to scripture, that means all people. On His way to the cross, Jesus did garner the reputation and title, “Friend of Sinners” (Luke 7:31-34). Of course, the religious leaders or Pharisees who gave this title to Jesus meant it negatively and were essentially accusing Jesus of condoning and approving sinful lifestyles. This was far from the truth, but the religious leaders were self-righteous, judgmental, jealous, and more and more intimidated by Jesus’ influence. Their disposition towards people was more often merciless unless they had the opportunity to look good in front of others. Jesus, on the other hand, had mercy on those who were living in sin, who were corrupt, who were in bondage, and who needed to be set free. Jesus wasn’t afraid of judgment and gossip because He knew His reason for being with these people was to save them from sin. Pastor Ryan broke down Jesus’ longest answer to the critics in Luke 15. We learned God’s heart and mercy for the lost and sinner through the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son. Pastor Ryan also taught us to be gracious and evangelize as Jesus did. We learned to be careful not to become like the older brother, the pharisee, who was merciless and to reach people without insulting or adopting sinful lifestyles.
Notes:
On the road to the cross, Jesus spent time ministering to all kinds of people from all walks of life. Because of this approach, Jesus garnered the reputation and title, “Friend of Sinners” (Luke 7:31-34). Of course, the religious leaders or Pharisees who gave this title to Jesus meant it negatively and were essentially accusing Jesus of condoning and approving sinful lifestyles. This was far from the truth, but the religious leaders were self-righteous, judgmental, jealous, and more and more intimidated by Jesus’ influence. Their disposition towards people was more often merciless unless they had the opportunity to look good in front of others.
Let’s be clear at the beginning of this sermon, Jesus was perfect and sinless. Jesus ate with sinners but He never sinned with them. Jesus had mercy on those who were living in sin, who were corrupt, who were in bondage, and who needed to be set free. Jesus wasn’t afraid of judgment and gossip because He knew His true reason for being with these people. What’s interesting is that Jesus spent quite some time with the Pharisees too, but they didn’t see themselves as sinners.
Examples of sinners Jesus embraced and helped:
Matthew the tax collector-Matthew 9:9-13
The woman at the well - John 4
The woman caught in adultery - John 8
The adulterous woman that anointed Jesus’ feet - Luke 7:36-50 (Jesus ate with the religious leaders here too, so He did eat with sinners).
Zaccheaus the tax collector - Luke 19:1-10
The thief on the cross - Luke 23:32-43
Why did Jesus do this? Because no one else was showing them kindness and mercy. Scripture says God’s kindness leads us to repentance…(Romans 2:1-4). Sinners were drawn to Jesus and He would spend time with those open to His teaching. Jesus forgave those who were repentant.
Jesus usually addressed the critics, but there is no response like the one He gives in Luke 15
LUKE 15:1-32
The Lost Sheep
Shepherds cared about every sheep in their care. Every sheep was valuable and important so when one went missing it was a big deal to the shepherd. This is how God feels about the one.
“Many of the flocks were communal flocks, belonging, not to individuals, but to villages. There would be two or three shepherds in charge. Those whose flocks were safe would arrive home on time and bring news that one shepherd was still out on the mountainside searching for a sheep that was lost. The whole village would wait and watch, and when, in the distance, they saw the shepherd striding home with the lost sheep across his shoulders, there would rise from the whole community a shout of joy and thanksgiving.” This is how God and all of heaven feel when one sinner repents and is brought home.
Mankind may give up on the one, but God doesn’t. The Pharisees may have given up on these sinners but Jesus didn’t.
The Lost Coin
One coin was worth more than a day's wages
The mark of a married woman was a headdress made of ten silver coins linked together by a silver chain. For some, it may have taken years for a girl to save up for this special headdress. The meaning of this headdress was almost equivalent to a wedding ring.
The Jews thought that if they came crawling back to God and prayed for pity they may find it, but never did the Jewish people consider a God who would search for sinners. This was a new teaching that Jesus brought about God. Like the woman lighting her dark home, eagerly searching for the lost coin, God came to our dark world in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the light of the world, seeks and searches in the darkest of places where the Pharisees would not go, to show mercy to these sinners. Jesus was God on earth, seeking and showing mercy to us.
The Lost Son
It wasn’t uncommon for the father to distribute his wealth and inheritance before he died, even early if he wanted to. This request from the younger son was rather heartless and insensitive to demand now rather than wait for his father’s timing. This could have been taken as he wanted his father to be dead so he could have his inheritance. He might as well have said, “you’re dead to me” and left. That’s not completely off with what our world has pretty much shown God, they don’t believe He is alive, they see Him dead and so they go about living however they want.
The humbling. Like many of us, we go through humbling situations until we are desperate. Only then do we come to our senses and see how wrong we’ve been.
The son begins his return home, a physical representation of repentance.
I love the fact that Jesus says the father was waiting and looking into the distance. I can’t help but think of the loving heart and eyes of God waiting for us to come home to Him.
The son apologizes by admitting his sin against heaven and his father.
In most Greek manuscripts before the son can ask to be a servant, the father interrupts and claims him as a son again. The Father expresses his place as a son by clothing him in a robe, giving him a ring and shoes. The hefty calf, saved for very special occasions is butchered to celebrate.
The Brother (The Pharisee)
If you recall, Jesus is taking the time to answer his critics, the Pharisees.
The older brother’s attitude and perspective are revealed and mirror’s exactly how the Pharisees view their relationship with God, “All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to” (v. 29). The older brother viewed his relationship with his father through work, not love. The older brother is the first one to mention and assume it was prostitutes, indicative of their slander in other scriptures.
There’s no celebration coming from the older brother, just criticism and complaining. Also the experience we see in numerous passages of scripture.
I realized something for the first time a few years ago, now look who the Father is calling to come home? The religious leaders. Jesus’ heart was for them too.
Lessons and Application for us, today:
God’s grace for us
First of all, we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard of righteousness, but the good news is God sought us and He continues to pursue the lost. God’s compassion seeks for the lost and His mercy awaits the lost. Either way, this is God’s disposition towards sinners who repent.
It’s easier to come back to God than to come back to man.
Notice that in each example Jesus states there was repentance. If God’s heart is mercy, mankind’s heart needs to be sorrow for what we’ve done and repentance.
Showing grace to one another
Jesus wasn’t the one throwing out the labels such as notorious sinners, the religious leaders did. It would behoove us to follow his example when he called people by name.
The difference between Jesus and a Pharisee: Jesus built bridges, the Pharisees built barriers. Jesus shows us to pursue the lost and help them come back to God. Jesus teaches us to show mercy and compassion so they feel safe to come to us later.
We don’t celebrate or condone sin. Notice the celebration wasn’t until they repented. Jesus never celebrated sinful lifestyles, He celebrates those who turn away from sin.
Guard ourselves against being a merciless and critical Christian (older brother)
We need to be careful that we don’t become like the older brother. This can happen when we forget what it was like to be lost. This happens when we neglect the mission to seek and to save the lost. The religious leaders were missing the heart of God. That’s why Jesus said to them in Matthew 9:12-13 “Healthy people don’t need a doctor–sick people do. Then he added, Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” The Pharisees were so stuck on following all their rules and laws they neglected showing mercy and love to all those who were lost and hurting in their sin. Jesus came and was faithful to God’s law and loving others. The Pharisees stood from a distance with judgmental, critical hearts. Jesus got up close with mercy and truth.
The older brother wasn’t celebrating because he was too busy condemning, criticizing, and complaining. A sign that we’re becoming self-righteous and prideful is when we’re doing the same thing about people and even our church. Instead of looking for something wrong with people, be merciful and get close. Be a disciple that reaches, connects, and shows them the way. Instead of looking for something wrong with a church on Sundays, let's look at our own life and evaluate whether we’re being faithful as THE church throughout the week. Are we praying? Are we evangelizing? Are we loving our neighbors? Are we serving? Are we giving? Are we helping with Calvary’s vision and mission to reach the lost and make disciples? Or are we just pointing out problems?
Can we reach and evangelize people as Jesus did?
Absolutely, but it’s something you need to approach prayerfully and spiritually. Jude 22-23 and Galatians 6:1-2. We go snatch them out of the fire, we help restore, but we must be on guard that we do not fall into sin, ourselves.
We should pursue and eat with our neighbors but keep in mind the purpose and mission for your presence, it is to love them and to help them know Jesus. We need to be led by the Spirit, prayed up, and be accountable to someone. The examples of the people Jesus ate and sat with are unique in that they all were treated poorly and like outcasts. So when Jesus approached them they were desperate for mercy and receptive to Jesus. There was an awareness of their sin and guilt and Jesus was a refreshing change. This is still the case today, people are looking for mercy from us. You’ll also experience those who are so lost they do not know or care how far they are.
What defines someone as lost? The lost don’t know Jesus or their need for Him. The lost probably don’t know what damage sin has caused. There are those who are lost who do not even consider sin as an issue, it has been a way of life. The lost need guidance. I don’t reach the lost by starting with exposing their sin, I start with a knowledge of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. This is when I share how Jesus answered the problem of our sin. I continue on the premise that Jesus came to fix the severed relationship between God and us because of our sin. This is how I help people see their need for Jesus, the love of God, and the issue with sin. They don’t always agree with me and I have to expect that. I also have to help people understand that living good lives doesn’t make us righteous enough either. I help people look to Jesus as the way, truth, and the life to enter eternal life. I show them in scripture that it is only by faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and faith in His righteousness that makes us holy and accepted by God. Again, they don’t always agree with me on this, but it’s what the Bible says.
Discussion
What parts of Luke 15 speak and minister to your heart?
If you were to come back to God how would you want it to go down?
Who are “the lost?”
How do we love and reach “the lost” without being pulled into their way of life?
What was the problem with the Pharisees (older brother)? How do we guard against becoming like them as Christians?
Let’s pray with faith for these people and situations…
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!