Storyteller: The Parables of Jesusනියැදිය

Party Time! (Part 1: The Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin)

Jesus was often criticized by religious leaders for associating with tax collectors and sinners. In Luke 15, He responds to their criticism with the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. These parables highlight that salvation is available to all sinners who come to Him in repentance.

Jesus came to earth with a mission, “to seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10, ESV). In Luke 5:31-32, (ESV) He says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The Lord profoundly loves everyone He has made, and He is deeply grieved when anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, chooses to live apart from Him. So He passionately pursues them and stops at nothing to demonstrate His compassionate care and win their love. When someone recognizes they are lost without Christ and comes into His family, all of Heaven celebrates to commemorate the occasion. Party time!

Take, for example, the lost sheep. Sheep are notoriously feeble-minded creatures. They are completely dependent upon their shepherd for everything. They are stubborn, vulnerable, and driven by their desire to eat, often getting caught in precarious situations or becoming lost altogether.

When a shepherd loses a sheep, they are not only seen as irresponsible caretakers, but they must also pay for the loss from their own wages. The shepherd has much at stake when a sheep goes missing. Therefore, knowing the other sheep are safe and secure, he takes off in search of the one lost sheep. When it is found, it is not intelligent enough to follow the shepherd home, so he must tie its hands and feet, sling it over his shoulder, and carry it back home.

There is great rejoicing because the sheep is no longer in danger, and the flock is together again.

Our Good Shepherd laid down His life for us so that we could be saved. Without Christ, we were helpless and unable to rescue ourselves. He did what only He is capable of—He single-handedly saves us by grace alone, through faith alone.

The other example in Jesus’ parables is about a coin. This is no ordinary coin. In ancient times, Jewish women wore headbands fashioned with ten small coins to signify they were married, similar to a wedding ring. The loss of one coin was significant because it likely equaled a day's wages.

Without modern-day electricity, finding the coin was virtually impossible because darkness conceals what can only be found in the light, and so it was with the coin.

When the woman discovered it, she celebrated with her friends, expressing her relief, gratitude, and joy. Party time!

We can all remember our sin-sick and miserable condition apart from Christ. In that way, we were no different from the religious leaders, tax collectors, and sinners. Yet when Jesus sought us and found us, nothing can describe the exhilarating feeling of being welcomed into His family. We were made for Heaven, and we are unable to find rest until we make it home.

Likewise, as believers already a part of God’s Kingdom family, we too should rejoice and celebrate when someone once separated from Him comes to faith. This is one practical way we see our plea answered: for the Kingdom to come to earth as it is in Heaven!

Prayer

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)

Jesus, thank You for looking after me in my distress and saving me. Amen.