Luke 15:3-7
In Luke 15:3-7 Jesus told the religious leaders the parable of the lost sheep after they criticized Him. “All the tax collectors and sinners came near Jesus to listen to Him” (v.1,3). “The Pharisees and scribes muttered and complained that He accepted and welcomed sinners and ate with them” (v.2). Unfortunately, isn’t that what we believers do – more often than not?
Jesus asked, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it (v.4)? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing (v.5). And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep (v.6)!’ I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance” (v.7).
Jesus wanted those hypocritical leaders to know that He came to save the lost. A man searched the wilderness until he found his missing sheep and carried it home, rejoicing. When he got home, he called his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. Jesus declared that there will be rejoicing in heaven just like that over one sinner who repents; the ninety-nine are righteous and need no repentance.
In 2024 rejoice and declare, “I once was lost but now I’m found,” and let God’s purpose manifest in you.