Sermon -- 17th Sunday after Pentecost (October 2, 2022)

LUKE 15:1-10

JESUS SINNERS DOES RECEIVE.

In the name + of Jesus.

     Imagine the headline: Local pastor seen in prostitute’s house.  What would your reaction be?  And what if, as you were reading the article, you discovered it was your pastor who was seen at the prostitute’s house?  At the least, you would be embarrassed.  What would you say to a neighbor who said, “Hey, isn’t he from the church you go to?”  What would you say to your pastor when you saw him again?  Could you look him in the eye?  Would you demand he resign?  Some might not talk about it, pretending that it didn’t happen.  Others would do nothing but talk about it, draw conclusions, and make condemning judgments.  In short, the whole thing would be a scandal. 

     Now I think you might understand the Pharisees’ reaction when they saw Jesus eating with sinners.  Shared meals in Jesus’ culture were shared friendships.  You feasted with family and close friends.  You expressed a fellowship, a unity.  The closest we get to that today is the church’s practice of closed communion in which only those who have confessed agreement with confessional Lutheran teachings are invited to the Lord’s altar here and those who haven’t made such a confession refrain from coming.  We long to be united and to share the Lord’s Supper with all, but we first must have unity confessed before it is practiced.  When Jesus dined with tax collectors, prostitutes, and other morally repugnant people, it was not holy communion, but it was Jesus showing sinners that they had a place in his life. 

     For this, the Pharisees were disgusted.  The Pharisees snarled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2).  They were right about that.  The people Jesus feasted with were morally reprehensible.  They knowingly and visibly violated God’s Commandments.  On the other hand, they knew it.  They knew that thieving, whoring, lying, and such were wicked things.  They carried plenty of guilt and shame because of their choices.  And who knows why they made those choices?  Desperation?  Loneliness?  Did they think their sins would actually make them happy, only to discover just how hollow it left them?  In any case, the Pharisees would not let them forget their sins.  These sinners felt bad enough, and then they had to hear the Pharisees stand in judgment over them and to pile on judgments against them. 

     But, “the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear (Jesus)” (Luke 15:1).  Why?  Because they knew that Jesus was not there to rub their faces in their sins.  He did not make the burden of their guilt worse.  He did not treat them according to their shame, but according to their need for mercy.  He did not condone their sins; sins are always wicked.  But Jesus provided relief for sinners—no matter how public or how perverted their sins were.  Jesus sinners does receive.

     Jesus not only had compassion for the people whose sins were obvious, Jesus also had compassion for the Pharisees whose sins were concealed by haughty judgment.  He wanted them to recognize that the kingdom of God is known by its mercy.  In order to show the Pharisees their sin, Jesus told them a parable.  “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:4-7). 

     If a sheep wanders off, it is usually because it is focused on the tufts of grass in front of its snout.  It has stopped listening to the shepherd, but just grazes and moves farther away as it continues to graze.  Suddenly, the sheep sees that it is alone.  He has lost the protection of the shepherd.  When a sheep is lost, it just lies down.  It does not try to find its way back.  But as it lies there, it becomes easy prey.

     You have probably heard the question Christians sometimes ask others: “Have you found Jesus?”  That is absolutely backwards.  We don’t find Jesus.  We can’t.  We are lost.  Jesus has to find us.  The Good Shepherd departs from the 99 sheep to find the one which has been lost.  And when he finds it, he cannot just whistle and expect it to come.  The lost, frightened sheep will not move.  The shepherd must pick it up and carry it.  The Shepherd bears the burden of the lost sheep.

     Jesus asked the Pharisees, “Would you really ignore one of your sheep if it were lost?”  I suppose the excuses to do that might make sense.  The sheep was stupid.  It should have been paying attention to the shepherd’s voice.  It will get what it deserves.  Who wants to bother with ones that go astray?  Even if it was back, it would probably wander off again anyway.  It’s not worth it.  But not so with Jesus.  He considers every sheep precious, even if they are lost.  Every soul is one whom Jesus has created.  Every soul is someone Jesus loves.  They are all worth it to Jesus.  He is not willing to concede any to the devil.

     So, Jesus bears the burden of every person.  Rather than be repulsed by the sins of anyone, Jesus bears the sins of all.  And he provides healing, consolation, and nourishment for every lost sheep.  If you have been cut deep by sins, Jesus supplies the balm that soothes the pain and brings healing to the wounds.  The waters of baptism wash out the filth of sin, and Jesus continues to mend broken hearts and broken lives with words of compassion and forgiveness.  If you are ever fearful and apprehensive about what God really thinks of you—“Does he really want me?”—Jesus assures you that God is sincere as he welcomes sinners back into the fold.  And for anyone whose sins have left them feeling empty, Jesus supplies the Bread of Life to satisfy the longings to be loved, to be wanted, and to be assured that you matter. 

     Jesus sinners does receive.  In fact, he rejoices to receive sinners.  Jesus said that when the shepherd finds the lost sheep, “he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost’” (Luke 15:5-6).  It brings Jesus great joy to find one who has been lost and to restore him to his Father.  He even invites others to rejoice with him that he saves sinners.

     Jesus sinners does receive.  He puts the burden on his shoulders and carries it all to the cross.  There, Jesus does everything that needs to be done to deliver sinners into the company of saints.  Jesus suffered what sinners deserve so that no sinner should ever have to suffer in the fires of hell.  Jesus was crucified in shame so that you will receive heavenly glory.  Jesus took away your guilt so that you would be declared innocent.  Jesus was not merely lost but rejected and forsaken by God the Father in order to reconcile and restore you to God the Father. 

     Jesus sinners does receive.  But he does not leave us as sinners.  He leads us to repent of our sins.  The prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners were filled with shame because they knew that this is not what God created us for.  God did not make us to use others or to abuse ourselves.  God has a higher purpose for us both in this life and for the life to come.  He shows you that there is honor in purity, in modesty, in honesty, in humility, in hard work, and in sacrificial service to our neighbor.  Not only do these things give you purpose, they also spare you many griefs which sins bring you.  He reveals this in his word, and by that word he corrects you, admonishes you, and guides you.  Most importantly, by that word he saves you.  He shows you that the Lord is a loving God in all he does and says.  When God tells you what is good and right, it truly is good and right even if it is hard or inconvenient.  Jesus may receive us as sinners, but he restores us to be his saints.

     Jesus sinners does receive.  Sadly, the scribes and the Pharisees did not.  The scribes and the Pharisees were the pastors of the synagogues.  They had little compassion for sinners.  If the tax collectors and prostitutes had worked up the nerve to walk into a synagogue, what kind of reception do you think they would have gotten?  What hope for mercy would they have had?  What a horrible thing if the reputation of the church should be, “You won’t find a welcome here.  Clean yourself up, and then we might let you in.”  Some people expect that this is the reception they would get.  We do well to check ourselves: Is that what the transperson would find here?  Would the drifter get a smile and a “Hello” from anyone?  Or would they get sideways glances and sneers?  Would they be avoided?  Would they be convinced that love comes with strings attached?  It is easy to become the Pharisee, and we ought to repent of it, too.

     Jesus sinners does receive.  It is not only Jesus who rejoices in this.  He says, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).  What a marvel this is!  The angels have been confirmed in holiness.  They have no sin.  They do not benefit from Jesus’ sufferings and death.  And yet, they rejoice when you benefit.  They are amazed at the mercy God has upon sinners.  They celebrate when the Lord proves himself to be gracious and forgiving once again.  Right after you are absolved of your sins, it is their song you sing: “Glory be to God on high, and peace on earth, good will toward men!”  If the angels rejoice in this way when they do not benefit, how much more do you and I have reason to rejoice because we do!  And how much you and I can rejoice when others benefit from God’s grace, when he brings back one of his lost sheep!  If Jesus sinners does receive, let us also be eager to receive them.

     What a marvel that Jesus would even use you to restore his lost sheep!  You know the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ because you have received it.  You may have family members who, like a lost sheep, have just dropped down and refused to move because they are scared, anxious, and hopeless.  You know people whose minds are filled with regret and whose spirits hunger for something substantial.  The Good Shepherd’s voice can be heard through you, declaring that Jesus provides mercy, hope, and healing.  You know it, because you have received it.

     Jesus sinners does receive.  Jesus sinners does redeem.  Jesus sinners does restore.  Let heaven and earth rejoice.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.