Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-28
Golden Text: II will arise and go
To my Father ~ Ilke Isis.


to my Father.'-Lulxe 1918.
The religious leaders OF the day
were the bitterest enemies of Jesus
because He went in direct opposi-
ton to everything they held dearest.
They were particularly critical of
Him when He allowed pubIcans and
outbreaking sinners to have any as
ISOLATION with Him. He had come
to seek and to save that which was
lost: these were Of the greatest need
because those who had the truth
held themselves aloof from them.
They considered themselves too good
to associate with them, and refused
to be contaminated by any contact
with them at all.
On the other hand, Jesus opened
His hand and His heart to them be-
cause of their need, and naturally
they flocked to Him in great num-
bers. He could not be contaminated
by them, and He had come TO lit
them out of their low estate.
TIL eclimax came when He actual
ly sat at the table and broke bread
with them. That is, He went into
their homes, for He had no home OF
His own to which He might so. This
called forth the bitterest denuncia-
ton of Him by the PhaTisees ana
the scribes who murmured, saying:
"This man receiveth sinners, ana
eateth with them
The Rejoinder
This brought forth from Jesus IN
reioinder the threefold parable OF the
lost sheep-lost coin-lost boy. 1t was
His answer to this criticism oil
theirs. Remember this carefully or
Won will be led afield; for often with
so familiar q passage we are apt to
read too much into it unless we keep
it in it's setting and recall just what
II was that brought it from the lips
of Jesus.
These are not three parallels, but
one. ''And He spake this parable
unto them. And if you will note the
record carefully you will find moth
ms, in verse s or verse II which in
dicates that He is telling another
parable. 1t is a continuous story to
illustrate one point and to answer
their one objection. Briefly sum-
married the three-fold parable sets
over in opposition to their unloVlnS
exclusiveness the love OF Goa lcI
the lost, and His rejoicing Ior thell
sees sinful criticism of the one VINO
is finding those who have gone
astrav. The picture of the elder
brother with which He closes is d
true picture of the critics.
Let us, therefore, not separate the
parable. but consider it as lie pre-.
scented it, as one, for each part OF
it presents one phase of the truth
The lost sheep just strayed away
grazing along the edges and before
it knew it was separated from the
flock and the shepherds care. The
lost coin rolled into a corner when
the holding chain broke; it was IN
active. The lost boy, however, went
away deliberately and wilfully.
In the case of the first two there
was an active search. The shepherd
left the ninety and nine who were
safe and went out over the WIG
country exposing himself to all kinds
of danger, not stopping until he had
found the sheep that was lost, and
then bringing it home on his own
shoulders and placing it safely with
in the fold. That one sheep He con,
sidered of such value that he Would
risk his life to save it.
The woman searched for the lost
coin until she found it. The sheep
was only one of 100; the coin was
one of ten. But that was not us
chief value. 1t was a part of the
wedding gift Instead of wedding
ring the wedding gift was neck
lace of ten coins. TO lose one or
them was like q woman today los
ing her wedding ring, or even more
than that in those days, for 1t might
even indicate that she had not been
faithful to her wedding vows, If
she was so careless as this with
that which sealed them. No wonder
then she moved every piece of furni'
ture in the house and swept every
corner and stopped not until she had
found it.
In the case of the lost boy, how
ever, the thing was different. The
father didn't go out to seek the boy
The boy had pre-emptorily demanded
his inheritance before it was due
Nothing belonged to him until his
fathers death, but he demanded it
now-and the father Sraciously Che
didn't have to) yielded to his un'
usual demands. Then he left home
wilfully and deliberately. He was
tir ed of the restraints which a low
ing father had thrown around about
him; he insisted on going away
where he could do as he pleased.
And to be sure he would not be
molested. he went as far away as
ne could land there wasted his sub
stance in riotous living What q
mighty heap the Holy Spirit car
pack into a few words! The steps
downhill are easy, and the descent
rapid. That young willful sport
spent ALL" and didn't have one
thing to show fol it--not even 3
friend: for the ones who had con
sidered him a good fellow and goot
company as long as he had some
thing to spend turned away from
him now that he had nothing, tC
look for another such sucker tc
spend other money on them. INC
man gave unto him." His state was
indeed pitiable one. Why he was
even driven to the job of being
swineherd-the lowest possible fol
any Jew, and his employer ever
drove such a hard bargain with hin
MHH am AM m n WV