May 16 min read

The Grace Parables: See The Heart of The Triune God Woven In The Biblical Structure

Today, we look at a set of Scriptures I like to call grace parables. They are found in Luke 15, and what makes me so excited about them is they reveal the person of the Triune God and His plan of salvation from the macro level and His intimate love and character at the micro level😉.

We are diving into three parables with a common thread. Each deals with the lost being found, a picture of us. I also don't want us to miss the significance of the number three here. The number three is significant throughout Scripture, often signifying emphases, such as the use of holy, holy, holy, in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8. The number also symbolizes harmony and wholeness as seen in the Person of the Triune God. The Lord doesn't repeat something unless it's crucial. I found in my quiet time that using three parables in this way is to signify the heart of God towards humanity, so we get it. You may ask, “Get what?”

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He isn't lost; we are.

He is not found; we are.

He is the pursuer, not us, demonstrating His tender mercies and great love for us.

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Something comforting in this revelation is that it's not about us. It’s about Him. This life is His story, and we are invited to be recipients of His grace. In this, we discover He is at work. His plan all along has been for us to know and enjoy Him.

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One of the reasons is that we must keep hearing the word of God so we know and believe the heart of God for us. We have been given the Spirit of Holiness, yet our minds need constant renewal to the truth about Christ. So grab your Bible 📖, journal 📒, and favorite pen 🖊️, and let's jump in🤿.

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Luke 15 opens by giving us context. The Pharisees and the scribes were murmuring about how Jesus receives sinners.

When I read the word “receives,” my heart leaped. I am a sinner saved by grace, and it is only what Jesus has done that could right my wrongs. Their judgment of Christ points to the heart of God and is reminiscent of the heavenly banquet mentioned one chapter earlier, where Jesus reminds us to invite those who are “… the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind… (Luke 14:13) As we see in Luke 14:21-23, it is exactly what our Heavenly Abba has done for us. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10.

Many people feel they must be clean to come near to God. But God made the Way for us to be made right with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. God cleanses us through the blood of His Son. What Jesus has done closed the chasm between us and allowed His love and grace to flow freely toward humanity.

The Lost Sheep

We move into the parable of the lost sheep, which points to our Good Shepherd. “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?” Luke 15:4.

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Quick thoughts to meditate on: You are priceless!

The Shepherd seeks the sheep. Let's not miss this. He had ninety-nine. What would it matter if He lost one? But this shows the value God places on each individual. He could have sent someone else to do it! He could have commissioned an angel to go. Yet He deemed the assignment so important and the sheep—priceless that He Himself came to claim it.

Jesus didn't have to come. But a body was prepared for Him so that He could die not only for us but as us. Oh, that is a distinction right there, my friends. It's when we believe the radical truth woven in the Gospel that we were crucified with Christ (we died with Him) that we can embrace the resurrection life He provides.

You see, the Apostle Paul laid hold of this and expounded on this in the Book of Romans 👉🏾

“Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.” Romans 7:4. Many of us, in our Christian journey, get stuck in Romans 7 practically, but we have been released (I will come back to this in the future) and need to believe Jesus. For today, savor the truth and believe the work of the Good Shepherd. It is through His labor that we are indeed able to rest.

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Our second parable is about the lost coin, which points to the work of the Holy Spirit. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?” Luke 15:8.

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A quick point to savor: “Light a lamp and sweep… and seek diligently…”

The Holy Spirit is ever so carefully looking for the lost. He is at work, prompting, convicting, and transforming. He does this with such attention to care. He is also at work in us once we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. He illuminates Christ and all of His loveliness to us. He also shines the light in us so that others see our lives and worship our Father in heaven.

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Our final parable concerns the prodigal son, pointing to our good Father. “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20.

Here are a few quick points to savor: The Father’s lavish love.

The father was already scanning the horizon, or he wouldn't have seen him from afar. The terms “embraced him and kissed him” in the Greek verb tense indicates that he held him tightly and repeatedly kissed him. Such love the Father has for us, not just when we turn to Him to come home but at all times, which can be seen when looking at the older brother👉🏾 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.” Luke 15:31.

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There is so much goodness in these parables; first, let’s relish the divine design of the Holy Scriptures. We often want to see scripture chronologically, but as we see here, there is something to be said about the layout of the word in the Bible just as it is. We see the Triune God at work to save humanity destined to perish. He didn't have to; He wanted to! Second, lets’s not neglect that truth that you cannot lose something you do not own. It is a powerful statement that we are not our own, but God’s beloved creation.

Finally, before we close, I want to mention that there is immense rejoicing in each parable when the lost is found. Beloved, relish the pleasure God has in you. He created us for Himself, this should cause us to stand in awe. Ponder His greatness and majesty, and remember that He desires to lavish His abundant love on you. I hope you have been refreshed.

Come back soon, and Remember, you are loved🫶🏾.

Andrea

The Grace Parables: Seeing The Heart of The Triune God. Journal Prompts:

Reflect on a time when you felt lost or disconnected from God. How does the image of the Good Shepherd leaving the ninety-nine to find the one resonate with your experience?

Consider the radical truth that you were crucified with Christ. How does this truth impact your understanding of your identity and purpose in Him?

In what ways do you find yourself getting stuck in the practicalities of living out your faith, like those who struggle in Romans 7? How can you embrace the freedom and life found in Romans 7:4?

Think about a time when you experienced the diligent, caring work of the Holy Spirit in your life. How did His guidance and prompting lead you back to God's embrace?

Reflect on the image of the Holy Spirit lighting a lamp and diligently searching for the lost coin. How does this portrayal deepen your appreciation for God's relentless pursuit of you?

Consider the father in the parable of the Prodigal Son scanning the horizon for his lost son. How does this reflect God's constant watchfulness and longing for reconciliation with His children?

Reflect on the embrace and kisses exchanged between the father and the prodigal son. How does this intimate display of love challenge your perception of God's love for you?

Consider the older brother's reaction to his father's love for the prodigal son. In what ways do you struggle with understanding and accepting God's unconditional love for others?

Reflect on the statement, "You are always with me, and all that I have is yours." How does this truth shape your understanding of God's abundant provision and care for you?

Consider the overarching theme of grace woven throughout these parables. How does this understanding of God's grace inspire you to approach Scripture with a deeper appreciation for His divine design and love for humanity?