Why tell three stories when one would do?

No one could argue against the fact that Jesus was a great story teller. But he was unlikely to waste words. Why then did he tell three almost identical stories in quick succession to make a single point? Read on for my reflections on this.

The three stories I refer to are all recorded in Luke 15. Each is about something that was lost but later found, followed by much celebration. The first is about a sheep that has strayed (part of a flock of 100). The shepherd leaves the 99 in safety and goes of searching until he finds the one that was lost. The second story is about a coin that was lost. Bible commentators suggest that this might have been an ornament with important sentimental vale. Again a thorough search ensues until it is found. The third story is about a son who cannot wait for his father to die so he could inherit riches, so he persuades his father to give him the money now. When the money, the "friends" and the fun run out he eventually comes to his senses and realising his stupidity and immoral actions he returns to find his father looking at for him. The father runs out to meet him long before he gets back home.

All three stories contain much that is the same except the cause of the "lostness". The coin had done nothing and was a victim of other causes. The sheep seems to have just strayed. The son deliberately chose the wrong path. The reason for the stories was the criticism of the self-righteous religious leaders who condemned Jesus because he kept company with people of bad reputation - "sinners". In my previous posting I explained that there are three different concepts to Hebrew and Greek understanding of what sin is. The main concept is just a basic human inherited characteristic. No one other than Jesus has ever lived a perfect life. Like the coin our problem in many ways is the consequence of another's actions. But a second concept is waywardness - the tendency to stray off the right path like the sheep. The third concept is about a deliberate choice to commit sin - like the son.

It seems to me that Jesus is saying that God cares about us passionately whether we have strayed a little, deliberately chosen the wrong way, or just can't help being the way we are. He will never give up on any one of us until he can rejoice in what was lost being found. If you are not living in a dynamic fulfilling relationship with God that brings deep peace and lasting joy then I guess that must mean he's still looking for you. Do you want to be found?