Ollie Ollie Oxen Free

• He went after a crooked tax collector as he hung from a tree limb hiding behind his wealth… AND – he called him by name… Zacchaeus, come down immediately

YES – Jesus in the flesh, went after lost people: passionately, personally and individually… BECAUSE - every person matters to God… (I think that is one reason there is so many lists of names in the bible)… people matter to God.

NOW - the sheep in Jesus’ story does have one thing going for it. YOU SEE – this sheep knows that it is lost. NOTICE – that the sheep does not say to the shepherd when he find him, "Hey, I’m not in such bad shape. There are other sheep far worse off than me I’ll be fine." NO – this sheep doesn’t say that. This sheep is not in denial. UNDERSTAND – this sheep’s eyes are wide open, it knows it is lost, that it’s situation is hopeless. It knows it needs to be saved.

AND - it is also interesting to look at what the shepherd does not say. The shepherd does not come to the sheep and say the things that we would be tempted to say--"You stupid sheep. You have only yourself to blame. What were you thinking of, wandering off like this? Why couldn’t you be more careful? Didn’t you know the path was narrow, and the cliff was steep and the countryside was filled with wolves? Didn’t you know that the path you choose always ends up in trouble?... So, don’t come bleating to me now that you have gotten lost. YEAH - I guess it does look like lamb stew for you, my little wooly friend"

NO - the shepherd doesn’t say any of these things. INSTEAD - the shepherd just opens his arms (breaks one of its legs) and gathers the sheep around him and goes home…. No condemnation, no lecture, just a shepherd so filled with compassion towards the sheep that when he finds it, his heart melts. And what does he do when he gets home… he throws a party

QUESTION – what do you think is going through the minds of the sinners and tax collectors as they heard this? “No way Jesus – I can’t matter that much to God… Not me. Not where I’ve been, not with all I’ve done… I mean just look at me… “

AND Jesus would say – “Oh yes you do – in fact – the Father has had party plates, cups, napkins and a banner with your name on it since the day he carefully knits you in your mothers womb… And He’s been waiting all this time, to stop all the activity of heaven and throw a party just for you on the day you come home…”

THEN - Jesus would look at them and say – “Ollie Ollie oxen free” - you can come out of hiding it is safe to come home.” YOU – matter to God…

The next point in your outline is;

You Are Valuable To God

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Lk 15:8-10

NOW – you need to understand that this was more than just a coin; it was kind of like a wedding dowry. In that day there were 10 coins a married woman would wear around her headdress. SO YOU SEE – losing it would be like losing the diamond in your wedding ring.