One in Ninety-Nine - Part Two

Tuesday, we began a two-part look at one of the most well-known chapters in the bible, Luke 15. We set the stage for today's look at these important stories. Jesus used them to counter the popular practice among the "religious" of treating tax collectors and sinners as second and third class citizens. Well, citizens is probably too good of a word to describe how these people were viewed by the Pharisees and teachers of religious law. Maybe "dust of the dirt" would work better.

The three stories told here are three of the most well-known parables that Jesus ever spoke. They all have a common theme, but approach that theme from different angles to ensure we get the point.

I really like the illustration given in Luke 15:3-7. Here, Jesus paints for us a beautiful picture showing the depth of love that God has for all of mankind. He is constantly searching to bring people to Himself. Jesus shows us that not the highest mountain or lowest canyon will stop Him from trying to bring people to the safety of salvation.

Just like the shepherd who has lost one of his hundred sheep, God does the inconvenient, the unorthodox. The world would say to the shepherd, "Hey, you've got 99. You won't miss the one lamb." God takes the view that the one lost lamb is as important as the 99, and the exhaustive efforts to bring them to safety begins.

Just as cool is the celebration that takes place afterward. The lost sheep is found and brought to safety with the 99 others who never strayed. Yet, Jesus uses this story to point out that the celebration is greater for the single lost one who has come to a saving relationship with Jesus than over the 99 who never fell away from God.

I hope you don't miss the significance in this, because at one time in your life you were the one sheep who Jesus was searching for. Don't forget that fact the next time a non-Christian enters your church. At one time or another, we all had the commonality of being separated from God. Some of us have since found Jesus, the Good Shepherd. For many others, He's still longing to bring you home.

Perhaps you've never turned your life over to God, and accepted the free gift of salvation that Jesus paid for with His life. Three times, Luke 15 illustrates one lost thing being as valuable as all the others who hadn't gotten lost. Three times, when the lost sheep, coin or son are found, the Bible tells us that there is a tremendous celebration, because the lost has come home. This chapter informs us that this celebration takes place in heaven every time the lost has been found.