Leaving the 99
We just read that Jesus loves outcasts.
Neither of us need reminding we are outcasts. But being reminded leads us to the truth.
Jesus is the Great Teacher. To teach us of His great love for every outcast Jesus uses three parables. These parables or brief stories with a truth lesson repeat the most powerful over all truth-Jesus loves us.
We need to be reminded of Jesus’ love daily. Why? Because our sinful natures cause us to forget.
Now the first parable-about 100 sheep. Keep your mind on the shepherd.
“So, he told them this parable: “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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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.’ 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.”
Luke 15:3-7
Got the picture? There are things we should notice.
First, think about what was happening before the sheep was missing. The shepherd knew how many sheep he had. He counted them. He did this many times each day. Have you thought about counting 100 sheep? They move, they bunch up so you can’t see all of them. This shepherd knew how many sheep he had…always. He did the work of keeping account of EVERY sheep.
Jesus is known as the Good Shepherd. We (all people) are His sheep. He keeps count, but He doesn’t need to count. He ALWAYS KNOWS how many people “sheep” He has. He knows where we are always.
Second, during one of his counts, the shepherd discovers one sheep-one-is missing. He doesn’t say “good riddance. That sheep is always wandering off.” He herds the 99 into an open area of the pasture…a safe place. Then he leaves the 99 to search for the 1 that is lost. 99% is a high number. Jesus always expects 100%. He will not leave the one lost.
In reality those who belong to Jesus’s “herd” are safe in His pasture. In reality Jesus truly does go after us when we are one of His lost sheep. Unlike the shepherd who has a good idea where the sheep might be Jesus KNOWS where we are. We might be lost to all others, but not to Jesus.
And don’t rush by the fact the Jesus leaves the 99. One sheep-you or me is so important to Him. He comes to us in our lost place.
There is a difference between us and sheep-but not much. Perhaps you find it disagreeable to be called a sheep. But we are more like sheep than we are unlike them. The biggest difference is the sheep can’t repent.
See the word “repents” in verse 7? When Jesus the Good Shepherd seeks us out, comes to us to bring us back to His God pasture-He won’t put us on His shoulders and carry us home-unless we repent. That’s right. While shepherd picks up the lost sheep and returns it…when Jesus finds us in our lost place, He calls us to turn from our sin. That’s what repentance is-turning from sin. To repent is to be truly remorseful about going lost. To repent is to tell Jesus we are sorry we left Him and His safe pasture for the sin found in the world.
Once more, to repeat is to be clear…Jesus will not carry us on His shoulders to safe pasture if we do not repent. But if we do repent there is joy in heaven. Jesus uses the words “more joy.” Heavenly joy is far superior to earthly joy. One lost sheep who repents (you or me) fills heaven with “more joy!”
Now for the last thought-imagine…saying “no” to the Good Shepherd because we like being a lost sheep.
What is the cost of saying “no” to the Good Shepherd? He leaves the 99 for you and me.