Luke 14-15

Chapter 15 of Luke’s Gospel is composed of three parable focused on something that is lost.  In all three the lost object goes missing.  In all three thee is a celebration when that which was lost is found.  But there is an apparent difference is the one seeking in the first two than in the third parable.  The owner of that which was lost sought to recover that which had been lost.  The shepherd and the bride all search earnestly and did not quit until they had found the lost one.  They did not abandon those that were safe, but their attention was on the lost.  The father does not appear to be seeking the wayward son in the last parable.  He stayed at home and did not search out the fields.  I believe the searching was just as intense as the shepherd and the bride; it only looks different.  The father was at a place where he could see the son return.  His heart was searching for the prodigal and at the first sight of a humbled child he moved at lightning speed.  Then the celebration began.

Stuart