The Lost Sheep

Introduction :

Treasure Planet

Rebellious teen Jim Hawkins receives a holographic map to the "loot of a thousand worlds" from a dying pirate. He joins an intergalactic expedition, bonds with the cyborg cook John Silver, and uncovers a deadly mutiny before racing to unlock the secrets of the legendary planet. Basically, they want to recover lost treasure.

This is exactly God's heart. Not about treasure or value, but there’s something lost to us that he wants to retrieve and save.

Open to Luke 15

Context:

Year of Jubilee reference

Jesus proclaims “the year of the Lord’s favor” in Luke 4:19. This occurs during his inaugural sermon in Nazareth, where he declares, “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled just as you heard it”[1] after reading from Isaiah.

This reference to the year of the Lord’s favor alludes to the Jubilee Year legislation from Leviticus 25, when every fifty years family property reverted to original owners and indentured servants were released[2]. Rather than simply announcing a literal jubilee year, Jesus was declaring an unending Year of Jubilee inaugurated by his ministry[3]. He declares this imminent “year of the Lord’s favor” to be the inbreaking of the kingdom of God, and it is already being fulfilled[2].

The broader context of this declaration matters significantly. Jesus announces that the Spirit has anointed him to proclaim good news to the poor, liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed (Luke 4:18–19). Jesus’ ministry signals that the time of deliverance for the vulnerable, poor, and oppressed has come, fulfilling the ideal social concern of the Jubilee Year[2]. This wasn’t merely spiritual rhetoric—he would liberate the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and his mandate necessarily upset the status quo because it challenged the systems and institutions of Empire.

Imagine when you go to a store, and all of a sudden they announce they were having a free sale: anything you can take in the store is free as long as you can take it.

Big themes in Luke's Gospel are that Jesus came to seek what was lost. We see in the whole book of Luke, continually talks about the poor; the Hebrew word is “Ani,” that his kingdom is actually reversed, that those who are lowly will be exalted. Jesus was not worried about the outside appearance as the Pharisees; rather, he was looking at the inside of the heart.

Prayer:

Read The Text:

Luke 15 ESV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Explain The Text:

Luke 15:1 ESV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

Okay, a little bit more context: Jesus has just finished explaining what it takes to be a disciple of his its cost alot it means taking up your cross. He even goes as far as saying you must hate your mother, father, and brothers- what!!!!

The crazy part is this: they don’t leave; rather, they come closer. They want to hear what Jesus has to say.

R.C Sproul Commentary says this: “ isn't in interesting Jesus drew sinners to him, but today it seems sinners flee from us.

APPLICATION: Do I exude compassion & Joy for others as Christ did?

Banner Above Our Heads!

This is what Jesus did: he drew them near with his compassion,n and not just anyone; let's look at the text- not just let’s

Luke 15:2 ESV

And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Why do Pharisees deem people sinners and tax collectors bad? collectors.

Tax Collector= Traitors

Sinners= Unclean

Why, though? Because of the Pharisees' hypocritical laws. It's the law, but they installed 5 other laws in front so no one ever got close to breaking it. laws

Jesus calls them whitewashed tombs. Why? Because he knew inside there were lying they didn't even follow all the things they said.

The Pharisees were so screwed up. Anyone who was sick, lame, or blind, they wouldn't even associate with them. Why? They believed sin caused there uncleaness; some Pharisees even wouldn't teach them God's word.

Have quick questions: have you ever been like the Pharisees? There are those people, then there's us.

There's grace for those moments.

So what the reponse jesus tells them is this story.

Luke 15:3–7 ESV

So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

What is a parable ? Why?

this is a story very reltable to the people they would have understood

for us maybe nos so much so let me explain it

A Shepard=The shepherd in the Middle East was responsible for every sheep. He was obligated to his master to see that none was lost, killed, or injured

he goes out this is very contry to what jew rabbis taught - they taught that one had to eanestly search out for God

But this parable paints the picture of God is the one who seeks us out in love

why the sheep : there quit isnt a animal more dumb sadly than the sheep

when a sheep leave the flock he leaves the fold does anyone know what it does ?