Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” — Luke 15:1-7 NIV
Where were you when Jesus found you? Probably in the same place I was—in the “lost” section of the spiritual Lost and Found. I try to remember that every time I get a little carried away with what I think are my accomplishments in my Christian life. We all battle with the pride of life but I have learned that I must stop frequently and go back to my roots and remember where I was and who I was, when Jesus came into my life. When I do, I find that I also have this one thing in common with everyone else in the body of Christ—I was totally lost when Jesus found me—and so were you. There are no exceptions.
Jesus was severely criticized by the religious leaders because of the type of people he hung out with. They were tax collectors, prostitutes, ignorant fishermen, beggars, the irreligious and a lot of very poor and very sick people. In answer to the criticisms of the Pharisees and teachers to that effect he told them a parable, as he often did, about a certain shepherd who was so concerned when the evening count of his sheep revealed that one was of them was missing that he immediately became a search party of one, leaving the other ninety-nine behind and set out to find it—and he did! When he returned with sheep in tow, the whole camp broke out in celebration, including the angels in heaven (Lk. 15:1-7).
I like the way the Bible describes the way in which the Pharisees voiced their disapproval of Jesus’ conduct with “sinners.” It says—they “muttered.” Isn’t it interesting how our human nature reacts when we don’t like something someone else is doing or when things aren’t going our way in the church or elsewhere. We’re much like the Pharisees—in that we all voice our disapproval when we’re unhappy about something but not openly, directly or out loud. No, we mutter. Now muttering is like whispering. It’s not speaking out about an issue clearly in debate or going to a person with whom we disagree to express our view, while we seek understanding. Muttering is a voice that’s just loud enough to be heard but silent enough to remain anonymous. Muttering is complaining with an attitude and one who mutters seldom has a solution—just a chronic complaint. I’m afraid we’re all guilty of being mutterers. Sorry, I better just speak for myself!
Jesus answered his critics using an illustration that they could all understand: a shepherd and his sheep. The Hebrews had been a shepherding people at least as far back as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Sheep were raised for their wool, their meat and later for the sacrifices at Jerusalem. A hundred sheep would be a normal size for a small farmer. At the end of the day, the shepherd would herd his sheep into a pen and as he did so he would count them one by one while inspecting them as they passed through the gate.
In this parable one of the sheep was found to be missing and the shepherd immediately left the others, no doubt in the care of his helpers, and went searching for the one which was lost. Notice that when he finds the sheep, the shepherd is so full of joy that he forgets about any finger pointing and blame. The emphasis Jesus is making in this parable is that when we search for someone that is very special to us—when they have been found—there’s a celebration, not a condemnation. God’s word says that’s the way it is in heaven when just one person repents or returns to the fold or is ready to come home.
There’s almost 7 billion people in the world today—and most don’t know of Jesus Christ. Now that’s a staggering number but did you know that it evidently only takes one of those unbelievers to have a change of heart to start a hallelujah celebration in heaven?
There’s another application here that I want us to see. Mass salvations are not necessarily the norm in God’s economy. In the beginning of the church, yes, we see the early church instantly become 3,000 on the day of Pentecost, then up to 4,000, then 5,000; but after God scattered them out of Jerusalem and persecution came, it appears that most redemptions were one-by-one, person-by-person, name-by-name. But praise God, it only takes one person to repent to make all of heaven smile!
I believe how we view this parable will have a lot to do with what our churches may look like a year from now—five years from now—or ten years from now. Is it not our responsibility to take care of the needs of the ninety-nine who are here today in our church family? Of course it is. But what about the one who is not here today—who once was a member but seldom attends anymore? Or the one who has never heard the good news?
What about our neighbors who surround us? How about the unbelieving mates of many of our members? What about generations x, y and z who are busy reinventing Christianity to their liking because no one will call them out? Who’s going to find them and bring them home? God says it’s up to you and me. We’re the shepherds in the parable. How are we doing?
Jesus said, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost” (Lk. 19:10), a commission which has been given to each one of us (Mt. 28:19-20). Church, there’s a celebration in heaven waiting to happen. Let it begin with us! Maranatha
— Pastor Don Kimbro
