The Lost Sheep

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As a child was there ever a time you got lost from your family or a group?

Looking for something that was lost. We recently talked about the Prodigal Son who was lost from the father.

What comes to mind when you hear the word sinner?

Did you know what Jesus said He came on this earth to do? “ “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

In our story today there was quite a diverse group of people who had gathered around Jesus. There were sinners including dishonest and despised tax collectors

There were also the supposed good people, the people who were the rule keepers of the faith, the people who upheld tradition - they even thought it was up to them to keep Jesus on track. They were displeased with the sinners who were there and said “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” eats with them shows acceptance

so as a result of the muttering and criticism of the Pharisees, he told a parable, a story. a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus in the gospels

When a sheep goes missing, a good and conscientious shepherd leaves the sheep and goes out to look for the one which is missing - even at the risk of not being there to watch over the sheep that are together in the pen.

The shepherd brings the sheep home hoisted up on his shoulders. That little sheep is perhaps bruised, wounded, tired, hungry and thirsty.

Then the shepherd joyfully announces to his friends and neighbours that his sheep has been found so they can rejoice with him.

there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the 99 who do not need to repent.

back to the beginning of our story. The Pharisees and law keepers did not see their need to repent. They thought being right with God was all about upholding traditions and rules. They failed to see their own need to have their hearts changed.

Jesus very wisely chose to use a parable about sheep to get his point across. Sheep very easily stray perhaps seeing a clump of juicy grass just over here and then over there and before long has separated itself from the rest of the flock.

We can also be like sheep and stray away. We want to go our own way rather than God’s way. But God, our Shepherd cares so much that He Himself goes looking for us.

Let’s not be like the Pharisees looking for opportunities to point fingers at the wrong being done by the sinners and lost people around us, but rather to go looking for them and rejoice when they are found.

There were ninety and nine that safely lay In the shelter of the fold; But one was out on the hills away, Far off from the gates of gold. Away on the mountains wild and bare; Away from the tender Shepherd's care. "Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine; Are they not enough for Thee?" But the Shepherd made answer: "This of Mine Has wandered away from Me. And although the road be rough and steep, I go to the desert to find My sheep." But none of the ransomed ever knew How deep were the waters crossed; Nor how dark was the night the Lord passed through Ere He found His sheep that was lost. Out in the desert He heard its cry; 'Twas sick and helpless and ready to die. "Lord, whence are those blood-drops all the way, That mark out the mountain's track?" "They were shed for one who had gone astray Ere the Shepherd could bring him back." "Lord, whence are Thy hands so rent and torn?" "They're pierced tonight by many a thorn." And all through the mountains, thunder-riv'n, And up from the rocky steep, There arose a glad cry to the gate of heav'n, "Rejoice! I have found My sheep!" And the angels echoed around the throne, "Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!".