The Third Sunday after Trinity – Pr. Anderson sermon
St. Luke 15:1-10 “More Joy in Heaven over One Sinner Who Repents”
July 6, 2025 | Christ Lutheran Church
In Nomine Iesu
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Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having allowed ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh. We beseech You graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ; and enliven our hearts by Your Holy Spirit that we may abide in Your Word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Your Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, by Veit Dietrich, p. 158)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Rom. 1:7, etc.)
The sermon text for today is taken from the 15th chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke. We read selected verses in Jesus’ name:
So He told them this parable: “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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
These are Your words, heavenly Father. Sanctify us by Your truth, Your Word is truth. Amen. (Joh. 17:17)
In Christ Jesus, who knows His little lambs by name and calls out to them because they hear His voice, the voice that gives them everlasting life, dear fellow redeemed:
In the movie, Frozen 2, one of the main characters sings a song called “lost in the woods.” He realizes that he can’t find his way and the only direction that he has is toward the one he loves. While we may wish at times that life would be like a Disney love story and finding the way out of the mess we are in, we sadly know that it will never be that easy. What makes life difficult is when we know we are lost in the decisions we have made; we try a few ways to get out that have our heads spinning circles. We can try to listen to the world and on the outside our focus goes from our lost state to how it compares to someone else. We can try to interpret our lost state in a different light to give us an excuse. Or maybe we are so lost, it looks like there is no way for us to be found ever again, so we sit lost in the woods with despair. The forest of life is scary, and as a lion hunts you, your shepherd comes to your aid. He recovers us from our errors, and He tells us how truly special it is. There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Knowing great joy is found in repentance, this means this joy has just taken place at the beginning of our service which is why confession and absolution can’t be forgotten. Jesus will teach us why. Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable: “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?” For one group, this is a joyous sight. Jesus’ Word is not only being heard by the lowest of society who it was well known of having wronged their neighbors, but they heard what He had to say, and they were being drawn directly to Him. They could see that it meant relief. The other group, who wouldn’t give the lowest of the low the time of day, couldn’t believe that Jesus would. Instead of being with them, who were of authority, Jesus is with the lowest. While they grumble, the parable reveals how they also were lost.
Hearing the opening statement, it is easy to see how the religious leaders were only aware of their standing among the people. This text uses language that the religious leaders felt some people were so low they could only be referred to as “sinners.” We may hear someone say this as a joke, but we know how serious this title is for us. The people knew how serious it was as well. For the leaders, they did not want to be called such names, but the law holds them accountable too. As much as they try to hide, Scripture reveals exactly the opposite. Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy (Proverbs 28:13). The Pharisees are concealing, and the tax collectors and sinners are forsaking and flocking toward the One who gives mercy.
It is good to see repentance, like we all witnessed this morning for the absolution we heard comes to us in mercy. As we search for that mercy, Jesus clarifies how we obtain it. He started off teaching us about a sheep that is lost. Now it is easy for us to relate to creatures because we are creatures, so we see Jesus tells another parable about the same concept. “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?” Now instead of an animal with legs that move, Jesus says a sinner is like an inanimate object. This is the parable that is hard to swallow. It’s hard to swallow because here is Jesus telling us that we can’t get out of our sinful ways. Love can’t steer us out of the woods. We are coins, lost deep in the couch cushion with no chance of escape. St. Paul knew the feeling of being trapped. He writes, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18). Whether we are like a Pharisee trying to hide, or a tax collector and sinner and know all that we have done, there is no escaping this. On our own, we can’t do a drop of good. We remain lost in the woods like a defenseless sheep.
Like many, we could shift the blame upward to God. Maybe He is the reason we are lost. Maybe He hasn’t taught us well enough or He is just too harsh on us. Our excuses fall flat when He points out our rejection. I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices (Isaiah 65:2) The blame game can only go so far until finally we look at the mirror at ourselves. It is there we truly see our rejection of God and there is not a thing we can do on our own to get us out of this mess. While Jesus’ enemies fail to listen to Him, this parable should have jogged their memory about a prophecy. He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young (Isaiah 40:11) While we have failed and will continue to fail, this is the mercy of the Father, sending His Good Shepherd to find us.
“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’” Like anything that is lost, there is always a sigh of relief that the item in question is no longer missing, and this is more than that. Jesus is teaching His enemies and those who He is dining with how it is joyous when someone who was in sin has been brought back to life again. Time and time again, Jesus is questioned by His enemies if this is possible. Time and time again He reveals this is the key to heaven.
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” This parable’s heart is about the people in the world who have lost their way. A place we all end up in because of our sins. Since our sins give us an eternal death, it is only fitting there would be joy in heaven when we are brought back into eternal life. Jesus would teach His people with another parable about this subject that would reveal how merciful He is. In the next parable of the prodigal son, we hear the words, “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:32). A death and resurrection that can only be celebrated because of the chief death and resurrection of Christ.
The chief death and resurrection of Christ reveals the true nature of the shepherd that comes to look for the sheep. The prophet Isaiah prophecies about His work for us. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6) We know how this ends. “But His wounds we are healed.” We may be away from the penitential season, but our penitence is found each week. To find our penitence is nothing short of a miracle. The shepherd has rescued us not only from the woods of life, but from an everlasting darkness we deserve.
Our fate should have been exactly that, our fate. We have been the ones who have looked down on others, who have committed acts that have led us into excuses and despair. Jesus knew all of this, He knew the punishment that is deserved for self-righteousness, and He who committed no sin, put all that sin on. The Father’s will was to see His law followed perfectly in the letter. Jesus did not get lost in the woods or fall into a couch cushion. Instead, He purposely wandered the wilderness and goes out searching with His light to illuminate where you are and bring you back. Being brought back and seeing your shepherd on the cross, you can be certain when Jesus says, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Your repentance is found not in your works, but in the works of the shepherd who put His life down for yours so you would live as one of His lambs forever.
If any doubt ever creeps into your mind that this can’t be possible. Your Lord tells you the protection for His sheep has been long in the making. Your shepherd, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins (Romans 3:25) The faith you have in your Savior is faith that is from the beginning of time. This is how long God has known you and wanted you to be in His flock. And as He makes you His own with His suffering and death on the cross, pulling you out of the woods, this gift of being found is given to you before your very eyes. You heard the Words of your Savior at the beginning of the service, and now at the end you will see Him. An invitation is soon extended just like the invitation in this parable, “And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready'” (Luke 14:17) Jesus invites you to the altar, where you receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sins. You are found and there is great joy in heaven where you will reside with your shepherd forever. Amen.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forevermore. Amen.
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