Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear him. 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 neighbours 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.”
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Jesus’ last section of teaching on discipleship ended with the words, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:35). Immediately Luke tells us about a crowd of tax collectors and sinners who gathered around “to hear him.” They’re doing exactly what Jesus had indicated is a true sign of discipleship.
But they’re not approved by the religious elite of the day. Indeed, the Rabbis had pronounced that it was forbidden to associate with an ungodly person, even for the purpose of teaching them the Law. Their perspective, therefore, dismissed both the crowd and Jesus himself.
So, Jesus launches into three parables that will turn that perspective on its head, if they’re willing to listen – if they have “ears to hear.”
The first is the story we have in this portion of Luke’s Gospel. A shepherd has one hundred sheep. At the end of the day, he counts them, as per usual, and discovers that one is missing. He immediately leaves the other ninety-nine in the open country (presumably in a sheep pen under the supervision of a helper) and rushes off to search high and low for the one missing sheep.
The search for the lost sheep continues “until he finds it.” It’s a determined effort with a clear goal in mind – this lost sheep must be found. We’re not told how long it takes, nor how far afield the shepherd must go, nor the hardships he endured, but he persists until the sheep is found.
And then he rejoices! He hoists the sheep up on his shoulders and carries it all the way back to the rest of the flock. That position – on his shoulders – is the most practical way to carry the sheep. It’s also tender and endearing, holding the sheep close. Further, it’s a sign of victory and triumph – returning to the sheep pen, he joyfully displays that the lost is found. And then he calls his friends and neighbours and throws a party to celebrate! The rejoicing is great!
That’s the way it is in heaven, Jesus says, when a sinner repents and returns to the Father.
It would have been an entirely jarring concept for these religious leaders. Indeed, a contrary saying that captured their own perspective said this: “There is joy before God when those who provoke him perish from the world.” They expected celebration for destruction rather than rescue, for the lost rather than the found.
The other surprising detail of the story is its portrayal of the Lord as a seeking God. The Rabbis understood that God would welcome penitent sinners. But the idea he would actively seek them out was completely foreign. Jesus continues this theme throughout the following two parables, culminating in the father vigorously running down the road to embrace his returning son. Our Lord passionately seeks us. It’s a powerful truth.
The final thing I note is that there is more rejoicing over the one lost sinner who is found than over “ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” I think this last statement is ironic. I think Jesus is referring to the Pharisees and teachers of the law who count themselves “righteous,” not requiring repentance. Which means that any one of us who has repented and returned – who were lost and have now been found – continue to be carried on our Lord’s shoulders, continue to be celebrated, continue to be rejoiced over. We’re in the Father’s sights. He’s sought us out. He’s welcomed us home – with rejoicing.
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Father, thank you that you have passionately sought me out. You sent your Son to rescue me. You have welcomed me home. You rejoice over me with singing. I, too, rejoice. Praise your name.
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Reflect:
If you have received Jesus as your Lord, you are part of this story – a lost sheep found. Sit quietly in the Lord’s presence. Sense the joy he feels over you. He rejoices with singing. Receive. Give him thanks.
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Photo by Jamie Morris on Unsplash
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