Parables of Grace: Embrace God’s Love for YouSample

The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin: Grace to the Lost and Wandering

When my oldest daughter was two years old, she wandered off down the street by herself. When I saw that the front door was open and realized that she wasn’t in the house, I bolted out the door and started calling her name. She was nowhere in sight. My heart pounded as I ran as fast as I could to the top of the street, where there was a busy intersection. I turned the corner and there she was!

Somehow, at 2 years old, she had the presence of mind to carry my purse on her shoulder. But she had no shoes on her little feet. She didn’t seem to know that she was in grave danger. I shudder to think what may have happened to her if I hadn’t found her right away. I scooped her up into my arms, laughing and crying at the same time.

Sometimes, like my daughter, we wander away from God and may not even realize what a dangerous position we are in. We need someone to come search for us. In both the Parable of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin, the shepherd who lost a sheep and the woman who lost her coin go to great lengths to recover their valuable possessions.

Jesus tells these two parables, along with the Parable of the Prodigal Son, as a trilogy in response to the Pharisees and scribes muttering about how He welcomes and even eats with tax collectors and sinners. During biblical times in the Middle East, table fellowship was a special sign of acceptance and honor. By sharing meals with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus was expressing an even deeper reality about His mission: It anticipates the celebration of the banquet feast in Revelation, where sinners are included in the community of salvation!

In these parables, Jesus wants to communicate God’s gracious heart for the lost! He is inviting the Pharisees to see how valuable the lost are to Him.

In the first parable, the shepherd leaves the 99 to go after the one lost sheep. On one hand, this may seem irresponsible. But on the other hand, it demonstrates how much each one matters to Jesus. A lost sheep will not be able to find its way back. It usually lies down and gives up. I also think of the sheep that has been wounded and cannot walk. This may be why the shepherd carries the sheep on his shoulders. This also conveys the care of a good shepherd. Have you ever experienced Jesus carrying you back home when you were wounded or wandered away?

In the second parable, a woman lost a coin that could have been on a headdress as part of a dowry. Most likely, the stone or dirt ground would have been covered with straw to protect against the cold. This meant that the woman would have had to remove the straw and sift through it before sweeping the floor.

These two parables demonstrate that God is not passive, waiting for people to approach Him after they get their lives in order. . . . God seeks us because He desires to restore our relationship with Him.

Moreover, the shepherd and the woman rejoice when they find what they are looking for. They call their friends and neighbors to rejoice with them. When you’re happy, you want to tell your friends so they can celebrate with you. When the lost is found, there is joy and celebration, which matches the joy in heaven over the one who was lost and is found!

Here, Jesus invites the religious leaders to celebrate with Him. He wants to change their hearts from one of judgment and exclusivity to one of joy and inclusivity.

Prayer: Inhale slowly and pray, “Thank you, Jesus, my good shepherd.” Then exhale slowly and pray, “For seeking and saving me.” Repeat this breath prayer several times, allowing it to become a meditation that you can return to.