Jesus came to seek and save the lost
Luke 15:1-7
The parables of Luke 15 include the parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost (Prodigal) Son. Each of these parables provide insight into the very heart of God. Today we will look at the Lost Sheep.
Luke 15: Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Note first that the shepherd cares for every single one of his sheep. If you are a child of God, He will not let you go. He will never give up on you. John 6:39 says, “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
Next see that the shepherd not only cares for each of his sheep but he goes after them. Jesus does not wait for you to clean yourself up and get yourself right to come to Him but calls you to “come as you are”. Nor does Jesus simply wait for you to come but rather takes the initiative to seek you out, even in times of wandering and rebellion.
Next see that the shepherd carries the lost sheep home. Jesus does it all – He cares for you, seeks you out, and carries you home. All you need to do, as verse 7 points out, is to repent and trust in Him.
Finally, note that the shepherd and his friends rejoice when the lost sheep is found. This is in stark contrast to the attitude of the Pharisees in verse 2. Jesus rejoices over a sinner who repents, and all of heaven with Him.
Perhaps you have a loved one who reminds you of the lost sheep. Pray and find comfort in the very heart of God to care for, seek, save, bring home, and rejoice in rescuing His lost sheep.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)