All the tax collectors and sinners were approaching to listen to him. And the Pharisees and scribes were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man among you, who has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open field and go after the lost one until he finds it? When he has found it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, and coming home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 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 don’t need repentance. (15:1-7)
Very few favor the one over the many. In this parable, Jesus describes a shepherd who leaves the many together in the field to go after that one that is completely lost. Of course, Jesus is the heroic shepherd in the story and those who are the 99 are the ones that have already been found and are enjoying fellowship together. When the shepherd discovers that one is missing he actually leaves the 99 together (but alone) in the field and goes in search of the lost sheep. Of course, God is omnipresent and able to be with His children who have been found, and be in search of the lost, all at the same time. What a blessing that is to all of us.
But the point of this analogy is the selfishness of those who considered themselves righteous (the Pharisees) and their lack of compassion for those who they considered unrighteous (the tax collectors and sinners). In reality, those Pharisees who were listening were just as lost as that lost sheep but they didn’t realize it. If we bring this same line of thinking to today we can compare those who are in the church with those who are lost sheep. Granted, just like the Pharisees, some think they are in the 99 but are actually lost. But the point of this parable is the lack of compassion that the 99 have for the one. We tend to want everything to be centered around us, but Jesus is just as concerned for the one as he is for the 99.
In my sanctified imagination, I often picture believers all huddled up together in the field, bleating like sheep; moaning and complaining. “What about us?” we cry. “Who is going to care for us, what will we do; why can’t God give me everything I want and give it to me right now?” On and on we bleat, cry, and moan. Meanwhile, the shepherd who is caring for us, constantly calls us to lift up our eyes. “Stop worrying about yourself and your own problems for a moment,” He insists. “Look up from your pity party and notice that someone is missing.” “There is someone who should be here with us and they are lost, they are in danger and the prowling lion (the Devil) is seeking to devour them!” The Good Shepherd is calling you today to look beyond your own worries, to see the bigger picture of the one lost sheep, and to join Him in His rescue mission.
