The Community Ministry
Weekly Message: Finding What is Lost
March 31, 2026
When we speak of Easter, many times what comes to mind is colored eggs, chocolate bunnies, jellybeans and one of my favorites, the yellow peep chicks. Growing up in New England, Easter marked the beginning of spring, the blooming of all the flowers and trees and the start of a new growing season. But Easter is a lot more than bunnies, candy and easter egg hunts. It is a celebration of what God has done so that we can be part of his family.
As much as I enjoy those seasonal treats, Easter is about a much deeper sweetness: the joy of a God who refuses to let us stay lost. To explain this, Jesus—the master storyteller—used three specific parables in Luke 15. His teaching was so revolutionary, that people would come from great distances to hear him speak. This teaching was so important and fundamental to why Jesus came, that he told 3 separate stories so that all would understand what he had to say. So, let’s take a closer look at what Jesus was teaching us in Luke chapter 15.
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” Luke 15:4-7.
“Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the coin which I had lost!’ In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10.
“And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his estate in wild living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began doing without. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.And he longed to have his fill of the carob pods that the pigs were eating, and no one was giving him anything. But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers.”’ So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate;for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:11-32.
In each story, whether it is a shepherd in a field or a father watching the horizon, we see an individual pulling out all the stops to find what was lost. Jesus was teaching us that God feels that way about his children. That even in our state of being rebellious, self-centered and disobedient, God made a way so that we could come back to him and be restored as a member of his family. Jesus is that way.
Easter is the celebration of what God has done for us, that we could not do for ourselves. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:8-10.
Jesus, the Son of God, sacrificed his life so that we could be forgiven. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday demonstrates that God accepted his sacrifice and that all who believe in him are reconnected to the family of God. We are His sons and daughters and as such are entitled to the benefits of being children of God, namely that we have inherited eternal life. So, this Sunday when you see the brightly colored eggs and a small child hunting for Easter candy, remember that our Heavenly Father pulled out all the stops so that we could be in right relationship with Him. He has given us a tremendous gift; adoption into the family of God and the certainty that we will spend eternity in Heaven with Him. We will be celebrating Easter on Sunday April 5th with a sunrise service starting at 6:45am on the beach at the Coconut Cove resort at mile marker 85 on Windley Key. Please join us as we gather to celebrate Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior!
If you have questions or would like us to pray with you, please call or text 305-306-7842. Your friends at First Baptist Islamorada.
The Community Ministry
Mensaje seminal: Jesús conoce nuestro sufrimiento
24 de marzo de 2026
¿Alguna vez le ha resultado difícil identificarse con los problemas de otra persona? A veces puede ser arduo comprender las dificultades vitales de otro individuo si nosotros mismos no las hemos experimentado. El trauma puede tener repercusiones duraderas en nuestra forma de pensar y comportarnos; de hecho, sus efectos pueden persistir durante décadas. Al reflexionar sobre la Pascua y el trauma que experimentó Jesús, me reconforta enormemente saber que Él sabe lo que significa ser humano y comprende cuán difícil puede ser la vida terrenal. A medida que nos acercamos a la celebración de la Pascua en las próximas semanas, examinemos con mayor detenimiento los desafíos que Jesús tuvo que afrontar y valoremos la razón exacta por la cual decidió vivir su vida como ser humano y sacrificarla para que nuestros pecados pudieran ser perdonados.
Apenas una semana antes de la crucifixión de Jesús, Jerusalén rebosaba de cientos de miles de judíos que se habían congregado para celebrar la Pascua, una festividad que conmemora la liberación de los israelitas de la esclavitud en Egipto. En el Evangelio de Juan, descubrimos que las multitudes estaban exultantes, impulsadas por el reciente milagro de Jesús al resucitar a Lázaro en la cercana localidad de Betania. La gente tendía ramas de palma y mantos a su paso —un gesto reservado tradicionalmente para la realeza— y aclamaba:
«¡Hosanna!», expresión que significa, literalmente: «¡Sálvanos ahora!». Al igual que los discípulos, la multitud esperaba que Jesús encabezara una rebelión contra los romanos y que su reino fuera de naturaleza terrenal. Cuando quedó patente que Jesús no tenía intención de derrocar a Roma, el entusiasmo se disipó y Jesús se quedó únicamente con sus discípulos.
El lunes, «Jesús entró en el atrio del Templo y expulsó a todos los que allí compraban y vendían. Volcó las mesas de los cambistas y los puestos de los que vendían palomas. “Escrito está —les dijo—: ‘Mi casa será llamada casa de oración’, pero ustedes la están convirtiendo en una ‘cueva de ladrones'”. Los ciegos y los cojos se acercaron a Él en el Templo, y Él los sanó. Pero cuando los sumos sacerdotes y los maestros de la ley vieron las maravillas que Él realizaba y a los niños aclamando en el atrio del Templo: “¡Hosanna al Hijo de David!”, se indignaron». Mateo 21:12-15. Jesús estaba derribando las barreras creadas por la élite religiosa y sanando a las personas directamente en los atrios del Templo. Los sumos sacerdotes estaban tan enfocados en proteger las tradiciones históricas del Templo que pasaron por alto la presencia de Aquel para quien el Templo había sido construido.
El martes, Jesús lanza una crítica a los líderes religiosos, centrándose en su hipocresía, su ceguera espiritual y su egocentrismo. Los condena por actuar como «guardianes de la puerta» que impiden a otros entrar en el reino, priorizando reglas rituales menores mientras descuidan por completo asuntos importantes como la justicia, la misericordia y la fidelidad. Jesús expone su obsesión con la imagen pública, comparándolos con sepulcros blanqueados que lucen hermosos por fuera, pero que por dentro están llenos de «huesos de muertos». ¿Se imaginan cómo se sintieron estos líderes respecto a Jesús después de esta confrontación? A los líderes religiosos les preocupaba más su propia persona que escuchar las palabras del Salvador que todos ellos habían estado esperando.
Al avanzar hacia el jueves, llegamos al día de la Última Cena. De aquí surge la tradición de la Comunión. Durante la comida, Jesús tomó elementos tradicionales de la Pascua y les otorgó significados totalmente nuevos, identificándolos con su sacrificio venidero. Dijo que el pan representaba su cuerpo: «Lo partió y dijo: “Tomen y coman; esto es mi cuerpo, que será entregado por ustedes”». El vino fue pasado en una copa, y Él dijo: «Esta es mi sangre del pacto, que es derramada por muchos para el perdón de los pecados». «Hagan esto en memoria de mí». Él instruyó a sus discípulos a continuar con esta práctica como una forma de recordarlo a Él y a sus enseñanzas. Luego, Jesús lidia con sus emociones en el Huerto de Getsemaní, preguntándole a Dios si debe sacrificar su vida para pagar por nuestros pecados.
Judas conduce a un grupo de soldados romanos y guardias del Templo hasta el huerto. Identifica a Jesús con un beso. Tras un breve altercado —en el que Pedro le corta una oreja a un guardia y Jesús se la sana—, Jesús es detenido para dar inicio a una serie de juicios. Jesús fue interrogado primero por las autoridades judías, incluidos el ex sumo sacerdote Anás, el sumo sacerdote en funciones Caifás y el Sanedrín; allí fue condenado por blasfemia al afirmar ser el Hijo de Dios. Dado que los líderes judíos carecían de la autoridad para llevar a cabo una ejecución, lo entregaron al gobernador romano, Poncio Pilato, cambiando la acusación a traición contra el César. Tras ser enviado brevemente ante Herodes Antipas y devuelto a Pilato, Jesús fue finalmente condenado a la crucifixión; no porque se le hallara culpable de algún delito —pues Pilato, como es bien sabido, lo declaró inocente—, sino porque el gobernador sucumbió ante la presión de la multitud.
No cabe duda de que Jesús experimentó todas las emociones que nosotros sentimos hoy en día. Él comprende lo difícil que puede ser la vida y ofrece su gracia a aquellos que deciden creer en Él. ¿Qué opinas tú? ¿Crees que Jesús es ¿El Hijo de Dios? Si tiene preguntas o le gustaría que oremos con usted, por favor llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 305-306-7842. Sus amigos de First Baptist Islamorada.
