Jesus is Looking for you

Luke 15:1–7 NKJV

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Luke 15:1–11 NKJV

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.

15 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

(Verse 1) Tax collectors (traders) expand here

Sinners probably means people who’s life were outwardly messed up. because of the wrong in their lives they were rejected by religious people ( I use the word religious to distinguish between them and the humility that comes from people striving to practice the Christian faith.

dly messed up. because of the wrong in their lives they were rejected by religious people ( I use the word religious to distinguish between them and the humility that comes from people striving to practice the Christian faith.

then the religious people speak up with accusation against Jesus and his disciples judging them for the company they keep.

(NKJV)

then the religious people speak up with accusation against Jesus and his disciples judging them for the company they keep.

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Jesus the Lord of all creation tells a story about a shepherd who leaves the 99 found sheep to go after the one.

I chose this passage of scripture because of the language that I often hear when people describe themselves to me they describe themselves as the “black sheep of the family.

in the last 17 years of pastoral ministry i have discovered most of my black sheep died their own hair.

to many being the black sheep is a self bestowed honor.

not all of us. some of us come from the step side of the family and could never get along with the step parent.

others of us got exposed to sex long before our minds and souls were ready for it.

some of us just felt different from the start.

others of us felt like we would never measure up.

some of us strayed for the same reason Adam strayed, Lord that woman you gave me.

still others of us know that we are here by our own doing.

we’d come home, but we don't know were to start or which to turn we have been lost for so long we forgot who we really are are or where we really came from.

there is good news

you are the lost sheep in this story.

JESUS IS HERE FOR YOU TONIGHT !

(verse 4 ) 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

to Jesus your not one of a number you are somebody! rather than explaining himself in plain language to the man appointed spiritually elite, he told a story to underscore the fact that he is not satisfied with 99 %.

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

in fact this scripture tells me that he left 99 to come for one.

lets take a closer look at verse 4: “go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” Jesus is coming for you! he’s been coming for you for a while now. worse yet you know it.

aren’t you tried?

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

why are you running?

what are your running to ?

what are you afraid of ?

if its working so well why are you here ?

what will He think when you come home? Let’s go to the text for our clues.

(verses 5 and 6) (NKJV) 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

he puts the lost sheep on his shoulders.

he rejoices.

he calls his friends to rejoice. (if you are a friend of christ you rejoice of any lost that come home).

(verse 7) ’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

verse 7 tells us that there is more joy in heaven over one who repents then over the 99 who need no repentance.

reconciliation not ball games or concerts are the cause for parties in heaven. “new birth” day parties if you will.

Luke 15:4–6 NKJV

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which 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 neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

Jesus is Looking for you

The Plan of Repentance