Admit One Lost Sheep

“Admit One Lost Sheep”

“Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.

Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home.

Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

7 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.” Luke 15:3-7

Intro: Luke 15 follows sooner after Jesus tells the story about a great Banquet,

in which the “poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind” replace the anticipated guest at a great feast.

Luke continues to set out one of the most challenging parts of Jesus' ministry.

Jesus was friendly and compassionate with sinners.

One versions calls them “notorious sinners”

Infamous, well known sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.

This was a subject of much debate among the Levites.

This made the Pharisees and teachers of the law complain

that he was associating with such despicable people…, even eating with them.

Then the passage shifts quickly into Jesus teaching the parable of the “lost sheep.”

We may be able to understand a God who would forgive sinners who come to him for mercy.

But a God who tenderly searches for sinners

and then joyfully forgives them is an extraordinary love!

We sometimes stumble over the word sinner, especially when we are in a church of well educated Christians.

We often raise the question "Aren't we all sinners?"

Yes, indeed after infancy our innocence quickly vanishes

and we stand in need of rescue and salvation of the cross.

In Luke's world, people’s sin becomes so routine and normal that they are sinners in need of repentance.

But yet others do not.

We must take a deeper look at what Jesus says in verse 7.

Jesus makes a clear distinguishes between sinners who repent

and "the righteous who have no need of repentance."

Here may be the most difficult struggle of all.

We must struggle with that distinction.

Which sheep are you?

One of the 99 or the one that is lost?

Jesus invites us into the story when he says,

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.”

Then Jesus makes a second point that seems out of place.

When the one lost is found there are rich and extravagant celebrations.

In the ancient world, "rejoicing" implies eating.

Would a shepherd really throw a party over finding one lost sheep?

If you have ten coins and lost one.

You search the whole house

Sweeping every nook and cranny until you find it.

When you have found the one that was lost you call your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you.

The whole neighborhood, the whole community is celebrating and rejoicing.

Jesus asks, "Which one of you" does not do the same?

Jesus implies in the parable of the father with two sons.

We would do the same thing.

When a son or daughter is lost but then is found.

When a spouse or loved one is unsaved but makes a profession of faith.

When a neighbor or even a stranger that we have never met becomes a Christian we all rejoice in worship.

God has prepared your heaven.

One of these days, we are going to a place where tears are wiped away.

Disease will reign no more.

One of these days, our sins and sorrows will be put behind us.

Our temptations to roam will be no more.

One of these days, justice will prevail.

Poverty and hunger will end.

The wicked will be separated like sheep from the goats.

One of these days we will find ourselves finally home.

Home in heaven that God has prepared for us.

Home with Christ who died on the cross to save us.

Home with the Holy Spirit who has empowered us to live like we ought to live.

So the Bible says, “There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents

than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

What a day of rejoicing that will be.

Let the party begin.

After all…, Isn’t that the definition of worship.

Let the rejoicing never end!

Come join the Celebration!

All of this has been made possible because God is concerned enough to come and search for you.

The cross and the resurrected Christ offers our ticket to heaven.

Other religions are spelled “D-O”

because they teach that people have to DO a bunch of religious rituals to try to please God.