The Lost Sheep

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2ezq4s

In Luke chapter 15 Jesus is being confronted by the Pharisees. They don’t like the fact that He is spending time with tax collectors and sinners. Their “holier than thou” attitudes are coming through and Jesus speaks three parables to help put them in their place.

The first of these is the parable of the lost sheep. Following that is a short parable on the lost coin. Finally, the parable of the prodigal son or lost son completes the chapter. That last parable is sometimes considered to be two separate lessons as Jesus deals with the lost son and then also with the reaction of the older son.

The purpose of Jesus coming to earth was to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10. In these parables Jesus demonstrates that even though we are lost by different causes, we are all equally important to be found.

With the lost sheep we become lost due to drifting away, perhaps being weak in our faith, or with a lapse in oversight of those who should be watching out for us. Sheep become lost unintentionally. Often while grazing from one patch of grass to another they will end up separated from the others without even realizing it.

With the lost coin we become lost due to the actions or neglect of others. Carelessness often creates situations where like a coin, people can “fall through the cracks” and become lost.

With the lost son, we become lost because we are determined to follow our own will rather than the will of the Father. Stubborn, self-willed actions lead us away.

In each of these cases Jesus shows that there is great rejoicing when any who were lost are found. Listen now to the first of these three parables. This comes from Luke 15:4-7.

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.

Sheep were very valuable possessions in the time of Jesus. They were used for food to eat, milk to drink, wool for clothing and flesh for sacrifices. To be in charge of keeping the sheep was a very important task. To lose even one would be very devastating.

The Bible contains hundreds of references to sheep and they were very important to the economy of the day. But sheep are not very smart animals. They need constant care and supervision or else they will wander away.

Christians are often compared to sheep and Jesus as a shepherd. While we might at first be offended at the notion that we, as sheep, might not be considered very smart, we would also do well to realize that we know nothing about salvation apart from what we are taught from God. With Jesus as our shepherd, we are being nourished in doctrines and guided in directions that are from God.

The Pharisees couldn’t see the value in rescuing the sinners. To them these sinners were repulsive, godless and without hope of redemption. But to Jesus, they are the lost sheep in need of a caring shepherd to bring them back home.

Notice that the quantity is not of great importance. 99 sheep are all counted as safe. But just one lost sheep is one too many.

Notice also that Jesus didn’t speak of the shepherd staying put and looking for the lost sheep to return. That sheep became lost unintentionally and is incapable of coming back without help. The shepherd goes out to find that sheep and lays it on his shoulders to bring it back to safety. Only then can the real joy be felt.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we each be more keenly aware of those who might “drift away” from their relationship with God. May we like a shepherd help to find these individuals and take their hand as we lead them back to where they belong.

Our thought for the day: “The loss of wealth is much; the loss of health is more; but the loss of Christ is such a loss that no man can restore.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.