Life has taught us to look for the superstars. When we go to the movies, we look for the stars: Denzel Washingtons, the Tom Hanks, the Haley Berrys, the Danny Glovers, and the Samuel Jacksons. We do not look for the lighting director of the movie Forest Gump or the costume director of the movie Soul Food; because the lighting director and the costume director are unimportant. We know and we look for the stars. In sports, we watch the David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Tiger Woods, Emmitt Smith, Randy Moss, Cynthia Cooper, Ken Griffey, Jr., Greg Maddux, and Tim Duncan. When we want to learn gardening and cooking we watch Martha Stewart. When we want friendly advise we ask Opra. We do not even pay attention to those on the sideline, the benchwarmers, the second teamers or even the support staff because for us they are extras.
This tendency to look for the superstars even affects the way we read Scripture. We see Abraham, Moses, and David of the Old Testament and Peter, John, James, and Paul of the New Testament because they are the superstars of Scriptures. The name of the disciple who brought that little boy's lunch to Jesus escapes us because we do not focus on the forgotten nine disciples. For their names fill trivial books rather than the books of our memory. We need to begin seeing the extras, the certain men in our neighborhoods, the certain women in our communities, those who will never see their names in lights, those in the shadows of life, those behind the scene because as Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Our treatment of the extras matters with Jesus. Furthermore, no matter how we strive to be numbered with the superstars, most of us will be numbered with the extras, the ordinary, the common, the average, and the regular. Thank God, that Jesus is accessible to the Extras. Thank God, that Jesus is concern about the Extras. Thank God, that Jesus can and will use those we consider supporting cast members for the glory of His Kingdom. There have been and will always be more Extras than Superstars. In our churches today there are more Extras in the pews than Superstars in the pulpit.
This text has a word for those of us who are Extras. I know the main point of this parable of Jesus found in the 15th chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke is to explain why Jesus receives sinners and eats with them. To teach us that the one that is lost is just as important as the ones that are found. However, we find a description of the Church in these modern times which is most helpful. We find the answer to the question, "What should the Church look like today?" We can find the answer in the ninety and nine in the wilderness. For a moment look past the Robinsons and see the Roses, look past the Woods and see the caddie, look past the kings and see the servants, look past the president, the chairpersons, and the directors and see the dutiful, the faithful, the reliable. Look past the one and see the ninety and nine.
First, we see them in the wilderness. A wilderness is a dangerous place, unlike a fenced pasture. There are so many uncertainties in the wilderness. There is no sense of security, only danger, no peace, only chaos. The Church today finds itself in a wilderness. A wilderness containing large trees of tradition that is casting long shadows of doubt over authority. A wilderness containing strange sounds of confusion over authority, glimmers of hope flickering light in the darkness, vines of secular influences interwoven into the sacred. A wilderness containing creepy crawling iniquities all around and wild animalistic behaviors threatening to destroy our sanity. The Master has left the Church in this context. Furthermore, the return of the Master is uncertain and the time seems far spent.
The ninety and nine feels the pressure of existing in the wilderness, to remain in the world but not of the world. In addition, the wilderness is a desolate place. Families are not close physically or spiritually. Many churches do not fellowship with other churches. The old folks sung a song with great meaning and power, time has made a change. One particular line in the song is, people don't love like they used to love. One clear indication that the Church is in a wilderness is overwhelming feeling of fear that have surpassed the feeling of love that flows from heart to heart and from breast to breast. As the Church tabernacles in this wilderness, we must be careful not to become divided among ourselves and become too self-reliant, being ever mindful that we are one body with many members. The ninety and nine were in the wilderness left alone by the Shepherd, the one who provided their every need who has now left in order to seek the one that was lost. Yet, they stayed together until his return.
Another point I would like to make is whose they are. The ninety and nine in the wilderness were as much the Shepherd's sheep as the one that was lost. The Shepherd had the same love for them that He had for the one. The Shepherd, who had lovingly led them before to green pastures and be beside still waters, loved them. Before we become so fixed on the superstars of the Church we must realize that the ninety and nine belong to the Shepherd and he loves them as much.
When we examine the character of the ninety and nine we discover that they were just. You pick this up in verse 7, where Jesus says, "ninety and nine just persons." The Shepherd did not seek the ninety and nine to bring them to the place of the one, but the Shepherd sought the one to bring it where the ninety and nine were located. He did not approve of the lostness of the one but the foundness of the ninety and nine. The ultimate goal of the Shepherd was to reunite the one with the ninety and nine. They are the ones who were doing the right things. They were the ones in the right place. They are the ones who where in right relations with the Shepherd. We must honor and recognize those members of our church who pay their tithes faithfully, who attend Sunday school, and mid-week services regularly. We must remember they are the ones who are present and accounted for when the roll is called. Yes, when the Shepherd called the roll, it was the ninety and nine that were there. He could count on them. Evangelism for the one would be meaningless if we do not care for the ninety and nine. Some of the most faithful members of our churches never hear that they are counted on and that their presence makes the Church worship experience worthwhile. Their families hear this type of praise at the funeral services but never during the worship service. The ninety and nine were just.
In addition, the text informs us that the ninety and nine need no repentance. This is not to say that they were perfect or sinless. Because we, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But they had already repented unto salvation. They had already given their lives to the Lord and have demonstrated it by following closely to the Lord. They were in the fold willingly and they were learning of Him. They have already been saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost. They had already given the preacher their hand and Christ their hearts.
Finally, a word about the joy in Heaven over the one that was lost. It is true that the angels shout when a sinner comes to repentance. They run the streets paved with gold when a sinner comes to repentance, and they sing praises to God Almighty every time a human heart is broken and the love of God transforms that life. That is why I was glad when I read the words "more than" in verse Luke 15:7. They might shout "Glory Hallelujah" when a sinner becomes saved but the ninety and nine keeps them smiling, keep them singing, keeps joy in their hearts and keep them optimistic. They might run the streets paved with gold over the one, but the ninety and nine keeps them skipping around heaven all day. The ninety and nine give a model of the Church of today, remaining just and righteous while the Lord is away seeking that which is lost. So when He finds them, He can deposit them in the Church and expect a return on His investment. The faithful need not become self-complacent or self-righteous because the text stands as a constant reminder that the Christ we serve is Lord of the Lost as well as the Found. We need to stand ready to receive those whom He brings back to the fold, to accept them with open arms and genuine joy in our hearts. Pastors, preachers, and church leaders need to be ever mindful of the superstars as well as the extras, the one that is lost as well as the ninety and nine. Remember don't mistreat the ninety and nine, don't abuse them for their faithfulness, we must continue to nurture and support them in the wilderness. The church must demonstrate that all people are important and valuable in the kingdom of God. The black sheep and the white sheep are the Shepherd's sheep. The ministry of the Church to the ninety and nine must not become secondary to the evangelism of the one. We must do both - minister to the one as well as to the ninety and nine. We must continue to plea and search for the one in the name of the Jesus but also encourage and nourish the ninety and nine in the love of Jesus. Remembering that baptism is not the end of the spiritual journey but the beginning. Remember that Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." We must continue the education process with the ninety and nine, so that when the Good Shepherd return, he can say well done thou good and faithful servants.
May God Bless You
