“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? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-10
Can you relate to the woman in this parable? When have you lost something so important to you that you spent the next minutes or hours searching until it was found??
Oh, I can think of a few times when I was searching for something lost. Most recently, it was my diamond wedding ring. We were in the process of moving so I put my ring in a certain spot that I thought for sure would be safe. Low and behold, after our move I checked all the spots where I thought I put my ring and it was NOWHERE! You know that feeling…your heart is racing, your mind is racing, you get a little hot, and your attitude becomes strained?? I was there! I had my husband helping me search. Finally, I checked one last place and there it was, safe and sound. The instant relief was amazing!!
Just like in the parable above, after the woman finds her lost coin, she is elated. This is not news she could keep to herself, she announces the discovery to all those around her and invites them to celebrate with her.
In the day of this parable, women usually received ten coins as a wedding present. Each coin held sentimental as well as monetary value, so the loss of even one was very upsetting. The woman would have been willing to go to great lengths to find her coin.
Jesus goes on to say that God sees every person as having great value. The Lord feels great sadness when anyone is lost, following the ways of the world instead of Him, and longs for them to return.
The end of the story shows the woman finding the silver after searching. She shares her great joy with neighbors and friends. Jesus directly compares her reaction to God and the angels rejoicing when a person repents of their sin, believes in the Son, and submits their lives to Him. How much more valuable is a person turning towards Jesus than any monetary thing that we lose? Jesus is shows us the rejoicing that happens when we find Him!