Luke 15:1-10
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7 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.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."
Jesus teaches us in these two parables many things...One is that God wants us to repent...Another is that there is rejoicing in heaven after a sinner repents...It also teaches us that Jesus is searching for us...There is this wonder and mystery in this search and the Way He searches for us...
The lost in these parables are us sinners...There is an active, precious search for us, lost ones by the LORD...We learn, even sinners have a way to heaven...This searching is a part of faith...We search for Jesus and God and Jesus searches (for sinners and those in need) and God searches (for His lost ones)...
We, sinners are important to Him...He is actively searching and pursuing us...What a wonderful verse and thought...Plus Jesus reemphasizes the importance and the search parables in these two parables and the Parable of the Lost Son, which follows these two in Luke chapter fifteen...
Jesus in the two parables is diligently searching...After a count at night, the good shepherd, realizes that one of His sheep is missing...In searching for the sheep, the shepherd must leave his flock (have another One) watch His flock and go to the open country to find the lost sheep...The sheep is in danger...He could be attacked by wild animals or permanently lost...The shepherd's daily bread and way of life is dependent on the flock for wool and mutton...When the sheep is found the shepherd and others rejoice...
In the similar lost coin parable...A lamp is lit and the diligent searching is begun...The house will be completely swept, and carefully searched, because He knows we couldn't have left, we really have no where to go...When the coin is found what rejoicing...What a relief, the coin is found...The neighbors and friends are all told...There again is rejoicing...Not only is God happy, but He rejoices with many...
Sharing joy is one of the greatest of things in our lives...
God's grace and in His LOVE, He actively pursues us...Even though we are lost sinners, God rejoices when we turn to Him...
Jesus associated Himself with sinners...He was criticized for eating and being with sinners...In His ministry He actively seeks sinners...His search continues today...
In the scheme of this large universe, Jesus tells us we, and each individual are important to God...Of everything and everybody around us we are actively being searched for by God...Jesus wants us to have a Father and son type relationship with His Father...
Like the woman and the one coin she finds and the good shepherd finds that one sheep...Each individual lost soul is searched for by God, and He will not give up until our souls are found...This search is part of the wonder and mystery of God...