The Lost Sheep

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15: 7 (NIV)

BAAH!

In the story of Pinocchio, Gappetto went out searching for his little wooden boy on the high seas on a very stormy night. Gappetto  knew that doing so was absolute suicide, the chances were that he would die in the sea and never find Pinocchio. However the loving toy maker cared more for this one little lost toy they he cared for his own life.

In the Parable of the lost sheep when the shepherd was herding in his sheep he noticed that one of the sheep was missing. A storm was brewing and if he went to go look for his lost sheep he might get seriously hurt. But he was a good shepherd who loved all of his sheep, even the lost one, and he went out to find him. After a full night of searching he finally found his sheep tangled up in thorns and unable to move. After freeing this lost sheep did the shepherd scold him for running off on his own? No, instead he lovingly embraces his sheep and carries him on his shoulders all the way back home.

The reason that Jesus told this parable because while he was preaching to sinners and tax collectors several Pharisees and teachers of the law chastised him for preaching the Word of God to sinners, because at the time the Pharisees believed that anyone who refused to follow their laws and traditions were sinners that could not be saved. Yet Jesus counteracted their claims with the Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. In all of these stories Jesus was trying to make a point across to the pharisees, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” God cares more about bring His message of Salvation to the lost sinners then bringing it to righteous saved.