[Giving Jesus Away] the Value of OneSample

The Lost Sheep

In Luke 15, Jesus was surrounded by a houseful of “tax collectors and sinners.” Given our inclusive-minded culture, we may admire the fact that Jesus kept such company. However, the religious leaders of his day thought he was compromising any claim to being a man of God. So, Jesus addressed his naysayers. He told them three parables.

The first parable involved a shepherd who oversaw a large flock. He had 100 sheep to be exact, and after a careful count, he recognized that one had gone missing. Deeply concerned about the loss, the shepherd left the 99 to find the single stray.

For years I was disturbed by this story. It just didn’t seem wise to leave the 99 to go after the one. When I saw people move far from faith in Christ, I often decided I had too much work with “the 99” to concern myself with the one who had wandered far away. Losing one sheep, as I saw it, was just the cost of doing business, like discovering that inventory was missing and writing off the loss.

The shepherd in Jesus’ parable, however, did not share my view. He did all he could to find that one lost sheep and bring it home. Yet the climax of the parable isn’t his effort or its result. Rather, the climax occurs when the shepherd returns home. Instead of scolding the sheep for its waywardness or bemoaning the time and energy he spent to find it and carry it back, the shepherd is overwhelmed with joy. He gathers his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him over the one sheep that had been found.

The parable itself is vivid enough to make Jesus’ point, but he added: “In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (v. 7)

Most of us are probably too preoccupied with our own happiness to give much thought to what makes God happy, but Jesus’ words give us a chance to fix that. What brings about great joy in heaven? What makes God happy? By way of the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus declares it is when one who is lost—terribly lost—is rescued and brought home. God isn’t content with missing sheep. He values every single one. And while not each and every sheep wants to come home, God is always up for the hunt. He is always looking for a new reason to rejoice.