The fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke is sometimes referred to as “the gospel within the gospel.” It begins with the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin and climaxes with the parable of the lost son (aka, the parable of the prodigal son).

It is good news all the way around. The lost sheep is returned safely to the flock, the lost coin is joyfully recovered by its owner, and the lost son finally comes to his senses and is reunited with the father he once rejected.

We love all of these stories—in part, I think, because when we hear them, we imagine ourselves as being on the receiving end of them. That is, I listen to the parable of the lost sheep or the lost coin, and I imagine that it is about me. I am that poor, tuckered-out, little lamb, who has lost my way, and now I am securely draped across my dear redeemer’s shoulders—so filled with gratitude and relief that I vow never to wander away again. Or I am that silver coin, lying in some dark, forgotten corner, until someone who refuses to give up on me sweeps me into the light, and I am recovered once more.

The only problem with hearing the stories in this way is that it’s not exactly the way Jesus told them. Despite the titles that we’ve assigned to these parables, they are not really about lost sheep and lost coins at all. They are stories about good shepherds and diligent sweepers. Notice that Jesus introduces both of them by saying, “Which one of you, if you had a hundred sheep” and “What woman having ten silver coins ….”

In other words, Jesus is not asking us to imagine ourselves as being lost; he’s asking us to imagine the joy we would experience in finding that which was lost. And when you hear these stories from that perspective, it puts a completely different spin on things. Instead of focusing on our need to repent and return to God (“I once was lost, but now am found”)—the focus is on our need to rejoice when those who have lost their way are welcomed home again.

And keep in mind, they are welcomed home unconditionally. There is no scolding … no guilt trips … no stern warnings about “Don’t you ever stray again.” It is simply the joy of recovering and being reunited with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Hence, the real question of this entire chapter is the one asked of the older brother at the very end—“Are you going to come to the party and celebrate … or not?”