“Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.”
(Luke 15:7 MSG)
The Pharisees and religious scholars of Jesus’ day were such party crashers. When they saw “a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation…hanging around Jesus, listening intently,” they were “not pleased, not at all pleased” (Luke 15:1-2). In fact, Luke tells us that “they growled, “He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends”’ (v.3). And it is their sour attitude that triggered the stories of “The Lost Sheep,” “The Lost Coin” and “The Lost Son” in Luke 15. In “The Lost Son,” Jesus used the older son to depict the attitude of the Pharisees and religious scholars. Like them, the son wouldn’t rejoice over the return of his lost brother, but growled about it. When he came home from work and heard the sound of music and dancing, he wouldn’t go in. “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in” (v.28) even after his father pleaded with him. What a way to ruin a party! Thankfully, that’s not the attitude of heaven. Jesus said, “Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue” (v.7). So let’s adopt the attitude of heaven and not be party crashers.
There’s no room in heaven for party crashers.
Rising with the Son 