Greatness: Matthew 14-20Sample

We live in a world of affluence and excess. Australia, broadly speaking, is a wealthy country. With our modern lens, it might be hard to understand the context of the shepherd in this parable. Here we have a shepherd. He is possibly a hired hand, but this flock of sheep could also be his own. He doesn’t own a lot; just the clothes on his back, his staff, and some food for the day. He has a hundred sheep under his care, and this flock is his livelihood. He really needs to care for them well for his own survival.

When one sheep goes missing, he has a decision to make. Does he go off looking for that one sheep, even though this puts the other ninety-nine sheep at risk? Or does he leave that one sheep and count it as a small loss to his shepherding business? It would make financial sense to just cut the one sheep as a loss.

This shepherd leaves the flock to find the sheep, and when he does, he rejoices greatly.

Jesus is that good shepherd who will pursue that one lost sheep to bring them back into the fold. And, like the parable, when one sinner repents and turns to God, there is a great celebration in heaven. As Jesus says, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7, ESV).

This is good news for those we know who are like lost sheep. Jesus is pursuing them in love to bring them into His flock.

Today, ponder this: Who in your life is like a lost sheep, in need of rescue by Jesus the good shepherd? Bring them before God in prayer, that one day you will be able to rejoice in their salvation.