The parable of the lost Sheep

1. The Parable of theLost sheep– 20th
August 2016
“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicingin heaven over one sinnerwho repents
than over ninety-ninerighteouspersonswho donot need to repent”( Luke 15:7).
The parable of the lost sheepwastoldbyJesuswhenthe PhariseescriticizedHimforsocializingwith
sinners.Throughthisstoryof compassion,Jesusrevealed hisrescue missionforsinners…those who
were lostor distancedfromGodthroughtheiractions. Jesustold them this parable:“Supposeone of
you hasa hundred sheep andloses one ofthem. Does he not leave the ninety-nineinthe opencountry
and goafter the lostsheep until he findsit?And when he findsit, he joyfullyputsit on hisshoulders
and goeshome. Then he callshisfriendsand neighborstogether andsays, “Rejoicewith me; I have
foundmy lostsheep.” I tell you thatin the same way there will be more rejoicinginheaven over one
sinner whorepents thanover ninety-ninerighteouspersonswho do not need to repent’” (Luke 15:3-7).
The parable beginswithastrayingsheep.A sheepapartfromitsshepherdisdefenselessandingrave
dangerfroma multitude of possibilitiesthatcanharm eventothe extentof deathdeath.Jesusviews
any person whohasdriftedawayfromHis presence asone whois lost. Why doesJesusdefinehe orshe
whohas driftedaway as lostbecause theirsins alienate themfromthe holyGod,leaving themgroping
aimlesslyindarkness. Theyliveastheyplease embroiledinsinandsinful deeds. “Sojusticeisfar from
us, andrighteousnessdoes notreach us.We look for light,butall isdarkness; for brightness,butwe
walk indeep shadows” (Isaiah59:9).
Whenwe studythisparable,we can note that the shepherdinthe story didn’tdespisehissheep for
straying. The shepherdvaluedthatsinglesheep,eventhoughhe owned999other sheepinhisflock.
Similarlywithaheartof compassion,Jesusalso valueseachsinnerthe FatherentrustsHim.We can
learnfromJohn 6:39, “Andthis isthe will ofHim who sent me, that I shall losenone ofall that He has
givenme, butraise them up at the lastday”.Jesusisintentuponrescuingthe sinnerbecause He loves
them.His love forus leads Himto sacrifice Hislife asthe atoningsacrifice onthe cross totake our
punishmentforsin.
The parable of the lostsheepalsoillustratesChrist’sattitude towardthe savedsinner.The parable gives
no indicationof the shepherdeverrebukingorchiding.Instead,he hoiststhe sheepuponhisshoulders
and takesithome. We knowthata sheepmay weighmuch,buthe carriedthe sheep overthe shoulder
for joyoverfindingthatwhichwaslost,the shepherd happily bearsthe discomfort of carryingthat
weight.Likewise,Jesusbore the weightof oursinsuponthe cross.As HighPriestandMediator,He
continuestobearour cares and infirmitiesbeforethe Father. “Hehimselfboreour sins” in hisbodyon
the cross, so that we might dieto sinsandlive for righteousness; “byhiswoundsyou have been
healed.” 25
For“youwere like sheep goingastray,” but now youhave returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer ofyour souls.” (1 Peter 2:24-25).
The parable of the lostsheepoffersanextraordinaryglimpse of heavenlyemotions.The shepherdcalls
hisfriendsandneighborstogether,saying, “Rejoicewithme; I have foundmy lost sheep.” The rescue of
the lostsheepwasa cause forproclamationandcelebration.Similarly,Heavenrejoiceswhenasinner
repentsandisrestoredto fellowshipwithGod.Thisjoyischeerfulness;itiscalm, considereddelight.It
isa deliberateemotion -- thoughtful andsustained.Thisisnota picture of raucousdancingand
carousingbutof lasting Joy and heartfeltsatisfaction.Why?A sinnerhascome home or inotherwords
come back to Gods presence!Suchnewsdelightsthe very heartof heaven.

2. Since the beginning,Godhasbeenthe GoodShepherdwhorescuesHis lostsheep throughHisundying
love forus.We can learnfrom the bible we thatwhenAdamandEve were hidinginshame because of
theirsin, God soughtthemoutin spite of whattheydid. Yes, we alsoknow throughthe bible thatGod
disciplinesusasstatedinDeuteronomy 8:5,“Knowthen inyour heart that as a man disciplineshisson,
so the LORD your Goddisciplinesyou”. AsChristianswe mustalwaysbearinmindthatit isfor ourown
good…whichmostof us don’tseemto have the level of faithtobelieveinGodspromises.
Because of His love formankind,He alsosentHisson to come downto earth as a sacrifice to die forour
sinsand save usfrom eternal damnation.He knowsour weaknessesand vulnerabilities,butHe will
neverforce anybody.Inorderforus to get a deeperunderstanding, Jesusbroughtusthe GoodNewsof
salvation.Throughthese teachingswe learntoreceive God’sforgivenessthroughourfaithinJesus
Christas our saviour.Godconstantlyreaches outto searchfor the lostsheepof His pasture,tobring
themback to Himand heavenwill rejoice. “Itell you that inthe sameway there will be more rejoicing
in heavenover one sinnerwho repents than over ninety-ninerighteouspersonswho do not need to
repent’” (Luke 15:3-7