The Lost Coin - not just a re-run of its trilogy sisters! Luke 15:1-10

Luke 15:1-10  Gospel reading for Sunday 12th September 2010

We arrive at Luke 15 with the great trilogy of LOST PARABLES (Sheep, Coin, Son) and the accompanying powerful image of a loving God that Jesus paints for us. It is interesting that Jesus gives this to us in triplicate. The use of threes is a common technique. We are reminded of the three neighbor candidates in the Good Samaritan; the three-peat denial of Jesus by Peter; Jesus subsequently questioning Peter three times - do you love me?  Incidentally we seem to have adopted the use of three as part of good story or joke telling technique!

So why the three variations of Lost? One commentary I read suggested that the sheep story has a blokey appeal, so the coin was a counter-balance more relevant to the females. Another "alternative" theory that I've read is that the woman in the coin story represents the Holy Spirit as the other two stories clearly contain Father and Son figures. Since there are almost limitless perspectives and threads for this collection of parables, I've decided to focus on just one small aspect, centred around what is probably the least known of the three stories, the lost coin. What's the point of the Lost Coin parable anyway? What has it got to offer that is not simply a rerun of the other two members of the trilogy? The coin that had gone missing, was of quite high value, being approximately equal to a day's wages. There is speculation that the coin lost may have been one of the woman's dowry coins (part of  the head-dress of a single woman), but in any case that is largely irrelevant to the thread of thinking that I want to explore. In digging around for some insights, I discovered something fascinating, to make me realize that there is a vital role for the COIN story.

Consider this. In the lead-up to Luke 15, Jesus is intent on declaring to the people that there is a new and better way about to be unfolded that will free everyone for all time from the impossible demands of the law. In typical Jesus master-story-teller fashion, each of the lost stories contains something of an outrageous element, partly for impact, but very much also to highlight the crazy nature of God's radical plan, that everyone for all time is set free. This is only so through His unbelievable grace that is available to all, with no strings attached. In short, free entry to the biggest party ever. Everyone has an invite. No ticket required. No bouncer on the door to check credentials. We simply say yes to that invitation and walk right on in through the door.

The lost parables all highlight the fact that in order to be accepted by the Father figure, not a solitary action on the part of whatever/whoever is lost is required.  The lost son, even though he has something of an apology planned in his mind, does not get a chance to deliver it before the Father unconditionally receives him. Despite sheep being perhaps unfairly labelled as dumb, they are arguably capable of responding to action. Ask any farm boy who has opened the gate to let sheep into a fresh new paddock, or poured out a trail of grain for them. They are unable to contain their excitement. It would however be stretching it to think that the sheep might be capable of expressing some sort of "sorry I got lost" repentance. So the lost sheep here in this story does nothing to enable it to be found.

As if to make sure, enter the coin! Perhaps Jesus uses the coin which is totally incapable of any response, to drive home the fact that there is absolutely nothing portrayed as necessary to receive the gracious gift of new life in Christ. Note especially that there is no confession or repentance required. Having said that, I have now backed myself into a corner which demands that I put verses 7 and 10 into perspective, where Jesus comments about the joy in heaven when a sinner repents.

Many Christian people understand repentance as a turning from sin. This mis-understanding unfortunately is often reflected in Christian worship and indicates that the grace concept is not properly understood. Let's get this straight. Repentance is NOT a work that is necessary for salvation. The root meaning of the word repentance is to have a change of mind. At this stage in His ministry, Jesus was acutely aware of the need to convince the people to change their minds about Him. It was not possible for the Jews to place their faith in Jesus as the Christ without having that change of mind about who He is. The repentance that Jesus refers to and celebrates in verses 7 and 10 then, is in relation to the fact that those who have rejected Him to date have changed their minds about who He is.

We do not earn our salvation by grovelling before God with some sort of sorry message. If we have been a swinging voter unable to decide for sure about Jesus (or have always voted NO for Jesus), when we change our minds to a definite yes for Him, we just walk on in through the already open party-room door. God celebrates when we change our minds for Him!

The Lost parables surely call us as Lutheran Schools to welcome the lost (those who have not yet made up their minds about Jesus) so that they may have an opportunity to learn about Him and ultimately change their minds in the affirmative for Him.

Nev