Our next stop in the parables of Jesus brings us to that of the lost sheep recorded both in Matthew 18:10-14 and Luke 15:1-7; I am using Luke’s account today. In Bible symbolism sheep often represent people, for example “The Lord is my shepherd” Psalm 23:1; “All we like sheep have gone astray” Isaiah 53:1; “…strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” Zechariah 13:7; and Jesus said “I am the good shepherd” John 10:11, 14. Since the background of the story differs between Matthew and Luke I believe Jesus used it on different occasions. Here in Luke the religious Pharisees and Scribes were complaining about Jesus associating with sinners (the lost sheep) and even socializing with them at table. Jesus took advantage of this to establish a spiritual truth through this parable; He did not come to earth just to hang out with and bless the religious crowd, or the sheep already in His fold; while He does love to bless the “sheep” in His flock and to shower lavish gifts upon them, He was not willing to leave that one gone astray, alone, dying out there on the mountains; His mission was “to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke19:10. It was to find that wondering one that had gone astray, wounded, lonely, confused, disoriented, hopeless and bleating, pick it up, and bring it back into His fold, then throw a great celebration party with rejoicing that resounds through all of heaven because the lost one has been found! No matter where you are today you have not fallen so deep in the ravine that He cannot reach you! He came demonstrating God’s “own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8. His word to us today found in Mark 1:15 is, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, Repent, and believe the gospel.” When your bleating cry reaches His ears He is there to pick you up, restoring you to His “fold”.
The lost one
By Rose Hill
If from God you have gone astray,
He will seek for you night and day.
And when you are back in His loving care,
He will rejoice to see you there!
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.