Parresia · Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace, Session 6, “Jesus, Our Relentless Savior”

Introduction

Welcome to session 6 of Beholding Jesus in His Amazing Grace. This session is entitled, “Jesus, Our Relentless Savior.”

• Our relentless Savior goes to the mountains to find His one lost sheep.
• He crosses the stormy sea to deliver that one man from bondage.
• He silences the voices of shame, and defends the rejected one.
• He sold everything He had – traded His own life for the one pearl of great price.

Luke 19:10 – [Jesus said of Himself – ] “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

• Jesus goes after the least, the lost, the last, and the losers.
• He invites the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind.
• He goes to the highways and the byways to welcome those who could never repay Him.

Matthew 9:11-13, NIV – [In Matthew 9, the Pharisees asked Jesus’s disciples -] When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, [or those who think are] but sinners.” [those who know they aren’t]

My hope for this message is that it will take all of us down memory lane and refresh our memories of our own testimonies. Like the Israelites who retold the story of their deliverance through the Red Sea over and over so that they would never forget, I think it’s important for us to go back to those seasons and moments when our lives were dramatically changed by the grace and redeeming love of our relentless Savior and to experience the joy all over again.It keeps us grateful.Where would we be without Jesus?

Titus 3:4-7, NLT – When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.

today I’m going to go through three stories that Jesus told: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. All three of those represent those who belong to God, but went astray.

In the story of the lost sheep, do you remember what the Shepherd does when He finds him? he carries him home. RIght? When Jesus, Our Relentless Savior, rescues us from our waywardness, He brings us home.

I think of salvation as a location change. We come home. Home is where the heart is. Home is where we belong. Home is the Father’s house. Home is where there is music and dancing and grace upon grace.

Home is where the peace is, and we can relax, knowing that we are fully reconciled to the Father.

Colossians 1:22, NLT – Yet now He [The Father] has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ [His Son] in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.

Hosea

Before I get to those three stories, I want to mention a story in the Old Testament that gives us a beautiful picture of Jesus, Our Relentless Savior. It’s the story of a man whose name means “Yahweh has rescued” or simply “salvation.” It’s the story of the prophet Hosea.

The Lord told Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer, whose name means “complete.” He married her, but she ran back to her other lovers.She eventually came back to Hosea, but then she returned to prostitution again. But Hosea loved Gomer so much that he forgave her over and over.

Like Jesus in John 13 who loved His disciples to the end, Hosea loved Gomer to the end of her wandering and unfaithfulness. It is a beautiful story of redeeming love. (Francine River’s book called Redeeming Love)

In Hosea chapter 2, God likens Gomer to His own beloved people.

Hosea 2:5-7, 14-20, TLB – “She said, ‘I’ll run after other men and sell myself to them for food and drinks and clothes.’ 6 [But God responds – ] “But I will fence her in with briars and thornbushes; I’ll block the road before her to make her lose her way, so that 7 when she runs after her lovers, she will not catch up with them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think, ‘I might as well return to my husband, for I was better off with him than I am now.’… 14 [God says] “But I will court her again and bring her into the wilderness, and I will speak to her tenderly there. 15 There I will give back her vineyards to her and transform her Valley of Troubles into a Door of Hope. She will respond to me there, singing with joy as in days long ago in her youth after I had freed her from captivity in Egypt.”

Our Relentless Savior has forgiven us 7 x 70 to infinity. No matter how many times we wander off the path, He continues to pursue us with His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Aren’t you thankful that He has never and will never give up on us?

The lost sheep

So let’s look at Luke 15 to see three more pictures of Jesus, Our Relentless Savior.

Luke 15:1-7 – Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him [Jesus] to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” [Sinners are those who have missed the mark and wandered from the path of uprightness and honor] 3 So He [Jesus] spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Why did the sheep wander? Maybe he was attracted to the sweet grass on another hill- maybe the grass was greener on the other side. Perhaps he nibbled his way off the path, out of the shepherd’s care, and out of the companionship of his buddies.

Perhaps he was led astray by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, enticing him with lies masquerading as truth.

But the Good Shepherd left the ninety-nine to go after that one! Does that mean He loves the lost one more? No. But it does mean that there is more joy when he finds it and brings it home. Because where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. (Romans 5:20)

But I imagine the pain must also be more. He goes through the tough terrain of the mountains to find the lost one. He doesn’t stop until He finds it – no matter how hard it is or how long it takes. And when He finds it, He carries it on His shoulders and tends to his wounds.

Ezekiel 34:12-13, 16, NLT – [Jesus says – ] “I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home… 16  I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.”

Jesus also told the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18. As far as I can tell, this is the only parable that was given on two separate occasions by Jesus. The first was in Matthew 18 around the middle of 29 A.D. The second was in Luke 15 in early 30 A.D., shortly before His crucifixion. This story is obviously near and dear to His heart. And you know Jesus is depicted as our Good Shepherd more than any other metaphor.

In the earlier telling of the parable in Matthew 18, Jesus did something that He didn’t do in the other telling of the parable: He related the lost sheep to little ones who believe in Him, but were led astray.

Matthew 18:6-7, TPT – [I’m going to read from The Passion Translation] “But if anyone abuses one of these little ones who believes in me, it would be better for him to have a heavy boulder tied around his neck and be hurled into the deepest sea than to face the punishment he deserves! 7 Misery will come to the one who lures people away into sin.”

The Greek word translated “abuse” in verse 6 is skandalizō and can also mean “to scandalize,” “to put a stumbling block before them,” “to offend,” or “to cause to sin.”

NIV says “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble…” TLB translates that verse “if any of you causes one of these little ones who trusts in me to lose his faith…”

I think “abuse” is a good word for it because it matches the severity of Jesus’ next words: NKJV says “it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”Jesus is basically saying that for anyone who causes this offense, it would be better if he had never been born.

What I hear in Jesus’s words is His passion for those who are young, tender, and greenin their faith – the little ones, the vulnerable ones.

Matthew 18:10-14, TPT – “Be careful that you not corrupt one of these little ones. For I can assure you that in heaven each of their guardian angels always sees the face of my heavenly Father.” [This is a warning from Jesus. He is saying that their angels have access to the Father. Those angels are sent at a moment’s notice to protect and defend the little ones.] 11 “The Son of Man has come to give life to all who are lost. 12 Think of it this way: If a man owns a hundred sheep and one lamb wanders away and is lost, won’t he leave the ninety-nine grazing the hillside and thoroughly search for the one lost lamb? 13 And if he finds his lost lamb, he rejoices over it, more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 Now you should understand that it is never the desire of your heavenly Father that a single one of these little ones should be lost.”

It may seem for a moment that the wolf has been able to snatch a wandering lamb, but that’s not the end of the story. No one can be snatched from the Good Shepherd’s hand.

John 10:28 – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

The Shepherd goes to the wilderness, the desert, the mountains – and looks until he finds that lost sheep. He doesn’t give up for a moment. Why? Because that sheep belongs to Him!!!!

1 Peter 2:25, AMP – For you were continually wandering like [so many] sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

The lost coin

Back to Luke 15 and the story of the lost coin.

Luke 15:8-10 – “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” [metanoeō – changes his mind; changes the way he thinks. This coin is someone who, when he is found, changes the way he thinks]

There are many things I could say about the lost coin, but I just want to point outa couple of things that I see.

The coin is a picture of someone of great value who fell. The coin was heavy so it fell.

The coin represents those of us whose lives have been determined by our circumstances. We were victims. The coin didn’t fall by itself. Gravity pulled it. And then inertia rolled it. And then friction stopped it. It had no power of resistance.

But the coin had great value to the owner. Not only was it a made of a precious metal, it was inscribed with the image of the king – like us! We are made in the image of our King! And we are inscribed on the palm of His hand. And we are precious to Him!

Matthew 6:21 –  [Jesus said] “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

What is is the treasure in Jesus’s heart? You, me, we are Jesus’ treasure. We are His pearl of great price.

Matthew 13:44-46, NIV – [Jesus said] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Jesus traded everything He had – He paid with His own precious blood to purchase the One Pearl of great price. He Himself was the purchase price for His priceless treasure – which was you and me! I believe that if you were the only one, He would have shed His precious blood just for you.

The lost son

Next Jesus told the story of the lost son. This story is different than the stories of the lost sheep and the lost coin. It’s not really a parable, but a picture. It’s the thing itself.

The sheep was 1 in 100. The coin was 1 in 10. The son was 1 in 2. I think the purpose of the proportion is to present the contrast: a son who did everything right, and a son who did everything wrong.

But the story is really about the Father. The Gracious and Loving Father.

Luke 15:11-12 – Then He [Jesus] said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ [NLT – I want my share of your estate now before you die.] So he [the father] divided to them his livelihood. [in other words, he gave them everything he had. Have you ever noticed the word “them”? He also gave the older son his portion, too. One squandered his inheritance, and the other apparently did nothing with it. He lived like a slave.]

When I was thinking about the older brother this week, it reminded me of when I was a newly wed in my early 20’s, and I worked briefly for my dad at his building company. His secretary was the “bane of my existence.” In my immaturity I perceived her to be the most passive aggressive person I had ever met. She was so territorial and constantly trying to assert her power over me.

I complained to Daddy, and his answer was, “Patricia, why don’t you act like an owner?” What he meant was, “All of this is yours. What do you have to lose by being humble and serving her? You’ll be here long after she is gone.”

A few mornings ago I woke up with this word: “All that I have is yours! All that I have is yours!” That’s exactly what the father said to the older brother who lived like a slave instead of a son.

Jesus was showing the people a radically different view of the Heavenly Father than they had ever known. The father in this story gave without expecting anything in return.

He did not punish, but rather lavished grace on the wayward son, both before he left and when he returned home. The son was blessed going and coming. Nothing was held back at any time. It was pure grace

Luke 15:13 – And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, [NASB – a distant country] and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

The Greek word translated “prodigal” is only used once in the whole Bible. It depicts to a total lack of restraint. One version says he “wasted all he was given in a binge of extravagant and reckless living.”

He went to a far country – as far away as he could get from the father – like many of us who at one time ran from God. But in reality we could never run beyond the grip of His grace, and we could never break the bond of His unconditional love.

Psalm 139:7-10, NIV – Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

We can all see the hand of God in our lives, leading us back home. Some of us had a Damascus road experience. Others of us were led through a process of the Holy Spirit gradually unveiling the grace of God. Others find out the hard way – like this younger son –

Luke 15:14-15 – But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, [“joined” means “to glue together, cement, fasten together.” The son joined himself to a pig farmer to meet his needs. He puts all his trust in a pig farmer] and he [The pig farmer] sent [wayward son] him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he [the young man] would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. [This kid went from having everything to having NOTHING!]

The word “pods” in Luke 15:16 is the only time in the Bible that this word is used. Pods looked like locusts. It was a long, coarse, sweet, bean-shaped pod of the carob tree that was used for fattening swine. Pods are disgusting. No one in his right mind would desire pods.

This Son would have gladly eaten the pods that the pigs ate, but no one would give him anything. And that’s what made him come to his senses.

And the first thing he realized when he was in his right mind was that there was more than enough bread in his father’s house.

Luke 15:17 – But when he came to himself, [NASB says he “came to his senses.” Thayers concordance says – “when he returned to a healthy state of mind.”] he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!” [So the son made a plan: to throw himself at the mercy and kindness of his father. ]

Maybe, just maybe, his father would have enough mercy and kindness to just give him some bread. Maybe his father wouldn’t turn him away if he was willing to be a slave. Little did he know!

Romans 2:4, NASB – Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? [The kindness of God leads us to change our minds]

Luke 15:18-20 – [the son says] “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son [“son” is the Greek word “huios” and it means “a legal heir with the nature of the father.” So he’s planning to say-]. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.

The father was obviously watching for the prodigal son, knowing one day his dear son would come home at last. This story always reminds me of the Hebrew word qavah in Psalm 27 –

Psalm 27:13-14 – I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord; [wait – qavah – eagerly expect; look for.] Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

The first time I looked up that word “qavah” a few years ago, I had an instant picture of the father of the prodigal son on his front porch holding binoculars to his eyes because he knew his son was coming home! He was looking for his son with eager expectation!

What a moving picture for us of God’s radical grace: The father ran to his son and fell on his neck and kissed him. And with as much wild abandon as the son squandered his father’s generosity, the father showered him with compassion.

The father didn’t care that it wasn’t his son’s heart, nor his son’s conscience, nor his love of family, but his stomach that brought him back home. The father was just overjoyed to have him home.

What a scandalous thought: God accepts so low a motive as this in order to shower us with His grace.

The father “fell” on his neck. The word translated “fell” is a beautiful word. It’s the Greek word epipiptō, which means “to fall into one’s embrace.” We see the same word in Acts 10 when Peter preached in Cornelius’ house, and the Holy Spirit fell on all those who were present.

Acts 10:43-44 – “whoever believes in Him [Jesus] will receive remission of sins.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon [“epipiptō’d”] all those who heard the word.

The Holy Spirit gave the people a big bear hug when they heard that their sins were forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Just like the embrace of the Holy Spirit, the father fell on his son’s neck and forgave the son of all his sins. There was not a word about his failures.

Luke 15:20, composite of several versions – [Here’s a composite I made of several visions of Luke 15:20 – ] “And the son got up and returned to his own father. But when he was still a great way off, his father looked off in the distance and saw his son returning. Great compassion swelled up in his heart. He was moved with pity and tenderness for his son, and heraced out to meet him. He fell on his neck, enfolded him in an embrace, swept him up in his arms, hugged him dearly, and kissed him fervently, over and over with tender love..”

The father knew that the day would come when his son would return. He was watching and waiting. It’s a picture of Jesus -knocking, calling, waiting, watching.

In verse 21 – the son begins his prepared speech – he says – 

Luke 15:21-22 – And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” [But his father wouldn’t allow him to say another word.] 22 But the father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.”

The word “best robe” is “protos” which means “first in rank.” This robe would have actually belonged to his older brother. No wonder the older brother was jealous,.

But I want you to think of that robe as the robe that we wear today: our Elder Brother’s robe. Jesus, the first born among many brethren, first in rank, willingly gave us the robe of His righteousness, the robe of right standing before our Gracious and Loving Father. 

A friend of mine had a dream where she was standing before Jesus in a white shirt. She was very uncomfortable wearing white in the presence of God so she removed it, only to find another white shirt underneath. Now she was even more uncomfortable so she quickly took off that shirt as well, but once again there was another white shirt under that one. She kept trying to get rid of the white shirts, but there was no end to them!

She was white to the core! She was clean and worthy to be in the presence of His holiness. It was His robe of righteousness she was wearing, and it wasn’t a robe that just covered sin. It was a robe that removed it!

Back to Luke 15 – the father also said, “Put a ring on his hand” – that was a signet ring-  signifying that he was still his son and full inheritor – it gave him the right to everything his father owned.  Obviously the father had continued to prosper while the son was away, and the inheritance had been stored up for him.

And the father said put “sandals on his feet” – signifying that he had a right to stand in his presence as a son. Servants would approach their masters barefooted to show their humiliation, but this son was exalted.

Luke 15:23-24 – “And [the father said – ] bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” [The father called him a son! A huios! A full inheritor – he was justified – just as if he had never sinned and never left! He picked right up where he left off!] And they began to be merry.

The fatted calf, of course, is symbolic of Jesus, our sacrificial Lamb of God. He was born to die, fattened for the slaughter. The fatted calf was being prepared beforehand because the father knew this day would come!

Fatted calves in those times were saved for only the most special occasions such as the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32). This was not just any party; it was a rare and complete celebration.  And, you know, had the boy been dealt with according to the Law, there would have been a funeral, not a celebration.

Luke 15:24-27 – [Back to Luke 15 -] And they began to be merry. 25 Now his older son was in the field. [Working. Always working.] And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [There is always music and dancing in the Father’s house when the lost one returns!] 26 So he [But not so with the legalist. The older brother] called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. [The legalist never understands singing and dancing in the Father’s house!] 27 And he [the servant] said to him, “Your brother has come,    and because he [your father] has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.” 

“Safe and sound” is one Greek word: hygiainō – to be well, to be in good health; strong, whole, one whose opinions are free of error. The prodigal was whole and in his right mind! 

Luke 15:27, cont – But he [the older brother] was angry and would not go in [to the party]. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he [the older brother] answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never [so much as] gave me [even] a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.” [In his mind, you only kill the fatted calf for those who are deserving. But in the father’s perspective, the fatted calf is killed for the UNdeserving. That’s the OFFENSIVENESS of grace – Christ died for the ungodly!]

Romans 5:6-11 – For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [Do you know what that word means? “destitute of reverential awe towards God, condemning God.”] 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Obviously this older brother is not like the younger brother who had nothing to give, but everything to receive. 

The older brother was trying to earn his keep by keeping all the commandments. He was serving to deserve what the father was willing to give for free.

Luke 15:31-32 – And he [the father] said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

He said, “Son, you are always with me…” This word “son” here is not the “huios” – the inheritor. It’s actually the word “teknon” which is an affectionate term that means child, or young son.

The father didn’t call him “huios”/ or inheritor because he was not willing to receive. The father said, “All I have is yours!” But he was still trying to earn, therefore he was just a child, no different than a slave, even though he was older.  

One had a spirit of sonship and was able to receive what the father gave freely.  The other had the spirit of a slave. That’s the “spirit of bondage again to fear”, and it produces resentment, bitterness, jealously, and anger.

Luke 15:32 – [but the father said to the older brother  -] It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’ ”

Conclusion

I believe we are coming into a kairos season – a due time – where the sons and daughters of God are coming to home to the Father’s house to receive their inheritance. They will probably still smell like the pig sty. They will be dirty and hungry and undeserving – just like every one of us. How many of you know that “But by the grace of God, there go I”?

God has already planned the party in heaven. He is waiting on the front porch with His binoculars. The angels are primed and ready to rejoice.   And when they return, the Father will fall on their neck, kiss them, and say – 

Matthew 3:17, NIV – “This is my Son [that’s our IDENTITY], whom I love [that’s His ACCEPTANCE]; with Him I am well pleased [that’s His APPROVAL].”

The gospel that we have come to embrace is the message that says because of the amazing grace of Jesus Christ, Our Relentless Savior, we are as Jesus is. We are sons of God, not slaves.

Galatians 4:6-7 – And because you are sons [huios], God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son [the Spirit of Jesus] into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, [Daddy] Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son [huios], and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

I prayed that God would  bring to your remembrance those times He pursued you with His grace as I read these stories.  Now I want you to imagine Him doing the same for those you love. If He did it for you, He will do it for them. Amen?

1 Timothy 2:1-4, NLT – I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. [Amen?!]