“Sheep are stupid and they smell.”
That’s how I explained the following passage to my kids as we worshiped God last weekend.
“What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’
Luke 15:4-6 CSB
For most of us living in America this passage lacks context to our understanding of God. For those in Jesus day, however, the passage couldn’t be anymore clear.
The men and boys would have connected immediately with the story of the lost sheep. (The women would have connected with the story of the lost coin which Jesus shares next. We’ll look at that passage in the next post.) The sheep was lost because, frankly, it’s just not that smart (hence the “stupid and smelly” comment above). Sheep tend to wander and easily stray, unknowingly, into dangerous situations.
The shepherd was responsible for the sheep. If one went missing and was not found the shepherd had to pay for it unless he could prove it was killed by a predator. This demonstrates the significance of leaving 99 other sheep to go after the one. The one sheep was worth something to the shepherd.
This explains why the shepherd rejoiced greatly when he found the sheep!
Jesus uses the story to teach us about God. Here’s what he said:
I tell you, in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.
Luke 15:7 CSB
Jesus makes clear, God goes after the lost person because they are of significant worth to Him!
You are of significant worth to God. He came to earth to live, die, and be resurrected to save you from a dangerous and deadly situation. He came to save us and when He finds us He rejoices.
We mean so much to God, He sent Jesus to pay for our sins on the cross. That’s incredible love. To be honest, it seems absurd that God would do that. But that’s just it. He’s pursues us with an absurd and unconditional love.
God loves you. He wants you to be part of His family. He is pursuing you, even now.
To those of us who’ve already been returned to the sheepfold, we have the incredible opportunity to partner with God in His search for more people. In fact, we have the responsibility to tell people how much God loves them and invite them into His family. God uses people to reach people. The great shepherd has commissioned us, empowered us, and filled us with His presence to go after the lost person. It’s time to stop pretending someone else will do it and take seriously Jesus command for us to make disciples of all nations—our friends, family, and co-workers. If you lack motivation, simply remember when God found you wandering alone, lost in a dangerous place. Remember the love you experienced when He revealed His presence to you and invited you into His family. And remember who He used to reach you. God is calling you to be that somebody to somebody else.
The Father’s Heart is to go after all wandering desperate and alone in a dangerous world. He wants people to discover they belong in His family. Like any good Father, He fights for His children because they are of significant worth to Him.
Let’s share the Father’s heart with those around us today.
-PB