RECEIVE LOVE: The Lost Sheep

PARABLES: More Than Just a Story • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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A shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to find the one who is lost. We who are lost in sin are found by our loving Shepherd, who heads into Jerusalem amid praise and palm branches. But it doesn't end there. As ones who have been found and saved, we now get to be His under-shepherds, seeking those still lost, so that the Lord can bring them back in.

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PRAYER

I will speak of our need to seek those who are lost.

Yes, we were the one lost who have since been rescued.

Yes, we have been in the 99 who are now among the rescued.

But then what? Are we complacent in being in the 99 and live only to complain (like the Pharisees) when the focus turns to the one instead of "taking care of our (the 99's) needs"?!

As ones who were lost and now are found, it is our responsibility to also seek those were know are not yet found. It is us "joining Jesus on His mission" to be out where the lost are; not just cozy in our church or situation.

What will we leave so that the lost are found? What will we sacrifice? In whom will we rejoice when they are found?

Would we eat with sinners? Would we sit on a donkey for the sake of the lost? would we suffer humiliation? Would we endure hardship and beatings? Would we humble ourselves to the point of death for the sake of these lost "sinners"?

If, knowing the mercy we have received (i.e., the answer to our cry of "Hosanna!") we are not willing to join Jesus, then we should put our palm branches down and cease our cries.

Thanks be to God, however, that He did actively seek us out when we were lost, we have received His grace, His forgiveness, and His everlasting life!

Hosanna, Lord; and thank You!

PRAYER

“Lord Jesus Christ, as we celebrate your triumphal, yet peaceful, entry into Jerusalem, remind us that you entered Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday to seek us out and to create the way that leads to our salvation. For we were lost in our sins, doomed to die eternally and assaulted by the attacks of the devil. But now that we have been found by the Savior of the world, we are free to wave our palm branches in praise to you, the one who lifts us on your shoulders and carries us home. Allow us, now, Lord, to join You on Your mission and help seek those - all of those - who are still lost! HOSANNA, LORD! In Jesus' name, amen.”

BREAKING THE ICE

What does it mean to be in the “in crowd?” Why is it appealing? How do those who are “in” usually think of those who are not?

What are the duties of the Shepherd in the story:

to the 1 lost sheep?

to the 99 remaining?

When did you become one of those in the “in crowd” of faith? How did that happen? Was it because of anything you did? Why is that important?

Atheist apologist, Penn Jillette, of “Penn & Teller” fame, once said the following. If that is true (and it is), what does that say about the Pharisees and scribes (and our!) attitude toward “the lost?” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8]

“I’ve always said, I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe there is a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward. How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe it, that that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point that I tackle you, and this is more important than that.”

FOR PALM SUNDAY: “HOSANNA” - Literally, "Save, we pray/entreat”, like in . Over time, however, this became a form of praise and adoration. What connection could we make to our parable today?

HOLY GOSPEL:

When they point out with disdain that He has the gall to eat with undesirable sinful people, Jesus puts the Pharisees and scribes in their place by telling a parable of a loving shepherd who loves His sheep...all of His sheep. Now we, too, as sheep who have been found, get to "join Jesus" on His mission to seek those still lost.

(1)Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. (2)And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” (3)So he told them this parable: (4)“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? (5)And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6)And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ (7)Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

DIGGING DEEPER

This parable has a parallel passage in . However, the two following ones (“The Lost Coin” and “The Prodigal Son”) are only found in Luke.

The primary meaning and understanding of this parable is directing to the Pharisees and scribes God’s (and, therefore, what should be their’s) attitude and treatment of those those who were lost (or dead); “tax collectors and sinners.” We can take much more from the parable and apply even more based on other teachings, but it is important not to diminish the chief understanding and purpose of these parables in doing so. Please keep that in mind, even as we venture to some of those other applications.

Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees and scribes isn’t just this one parable, but three in a row! Immediately following this one, Jesus tells the parables of “The Lost Coin” [] and “The Prodigal Son” [], so He makes quite a big deal about this topic. All of this is directed in the text to the Pharisees and scribes. It is vital that we understand in our study that the primary meaning and understanding of this parable is directed to the Pharisees and scribes. Jesus is sharing what God’s attitude is toward Jews who were lost or dead (i.e., “tax collectors and sinners”) If that is God’s attitude, Jesus is saying that should be the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes, too. We can take much more from the parable and apply even more based on other teachings, but it is important not to diminish the chief understanding and purpose of these parables in doing so. Please keep that in mind, even as we venture to some of those other applications.

Verse 1: Why did “tax collectors and sinners” draw near to Jesus (generally)? Why did Jesus allow it?

Verse 2: What is inherent in the grumbling? What is their attitude toward the following and what makes their attitude wrong? What should their attitude be? What should ours be?

Tax collectors & sinners

Jesus

Their fellow Pharisees and scribes

Verse 4:

“What man of you…does not?” Jesus is stating what is the common understanding and practice. This isn’t (or shouldn’t be) some foreign or radical new practice. Jesus makes the connection to what they already would do in one situation with animals, but what they are seemingly not willing to do for their fellow Jews.

“until he finds it?” So great is the love and concern for the lost sheep, the Shepherd doesn’t give up on the lost!

What should we make of the 99 who are left; and not only left, but left “in open country?” Does this not seem reckless and dangerous for those sheep? Don’t the 99 have a “right” to be angry that the Shepherd has seemingly abandoned them and left them vulnerable? Should they have the “right” for the Shepherd to care for them? This is (at least part of) the attitude of the Pharisees and scribes. What’s wrong with that? How is that reflected in our day? In our lives? In our church body? In our congregation? What should the attitude be? Why?

Verse 5:

“when” he finds not “if”!

“lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing” the Shepherd is not put-out or angry. He does not scold or punish. He rejoices in carrying the lost sheep!

Verse 6:

“he calls together his friends and his neighbors” Note: “friend and neighbors”. This is a big affair!

‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’” d

‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’” All of this for one lost sheep!

Verse 7:

“there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” A celebration for “tax collectors and sinners!” For us and all who were lost! How does that make you feel?

How does that make you feel? How should it make the 99 sheep feel? When we are the 99, what should our reaction be? Why?

How should it make the 99 sheep feel? When we are the 99, what should our reaction be? Why?

Take a look at , , and . What light do they shed on what Jesus is saying?

BY THE CHARACTERS: For each of the following in the parable, consider how you are similar, not similar, what you can learn from that character, and what you will do differently through love in Jesus.

Tax Collectors and Sinners / “The 99”

Pharisees & Scribes / “The Lost Sheep”

Jesus / “The Shepherd”

Friends and Neighbors / “Those in Heaven”

The 99 Sheep

The 1 Sheep

Friends and Neighbors

WRAPPING THINGS UP

We all were dead in our trespasses and sins. Every one of us. Since conception! And, because of our sin, every one of us deserves God’s eternal wrath and punishment.

In despair but future hope, we raise to You our palm branches and cry, “SAVE US, LORD! HOSANNA!”

Praise the Lord because God was not content with our separation from Him for eternity, so He pursued us through Jesus in His love, His forgiveness, and His divine mercy. In and through jesus, He has found us who were lost and made alive we, who were dead!

In joyful thanksgiving, we raise our palm branches and proclaim, “THANK YOU, LORD! BLESSED ARE YOU WHO HAS COME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!”

Now what? Having received that life and grace, what do we do?

And every one of us have a gracious, loving, persistant and pursuing God who was not content with our seperation from Him, so, in Jesus, He actively sought us out.

Do we live as in an exclusive club, making sure everyone there “follows the rules” and all who don’t get promptly “kicked out,” with their picture left with security to make sure they don’t get back in?

We now have a “privileged” position. We’re in. “They’re” out. “PRAISE THE LORD!”????

But it’s not out club and we aren’t the Owner. We don’t get to decide who is in and out. In fact, as ones who were out, we know what that’s like and where that leads, so we should be even more adamant on trying to have others come in.

More to the point, what are we doing to “join our Shepherd, Jesus, on His Mission” to bring in, both sheep were were found and are now lost again as well as those sheep who had never been found in the first place? How can we we be winsome in our lives, our families, our workplaces so that our “found-ness” is joyfully attractive and desired? How can we live as to be winsome? How can we get out of the clubhouse and lovingly pursue as we once were?

What will we leave so that the lost are found? What will we sacrifice? In whom will we rejoice when they are found?

So, I'm thinking (in the mindset of fresh or different perspectives in these parables), perhaps I will emphasize the heart of the Shepherd, and we, as under-shepherds.

I will speak of our need to seek those who are lost.

Yes, we were the one lost who have since been rescued.

Yes, we have been in the 99 who are now among the rescued.

But then what? Are we complacent in being in the 99 and live only to complain (like the Pharisees) when the focus turns to the one instead of "taking care of our (the 99's) needs"?!

What will we leave so that the lost are found? What will we sacrifice? In whom will we rejoice when they are found?

Would we eat with sinners? Would we sit on a donkey for the sake of the lost? Would we suffer humiliation? Would we endure hardship and beatings? Would we humble ourselves to the point of death for the sake of these lost "sinners"?

If, knowing the mercy we have received (i.e., the answer to our cry of "Hosanna!") we are not willing to join Jesus, then we should put our palm branches down and cease our cries.

Thanks be to God, however, that He did actively seek us out when we were lost, we have received His grace, His forgiveness, and His everlasting life!

Hosanna, Lord; and thank You!

CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION

What will you leave so that the lost are found? What will you sacrifice? What humiliation will you suffer? What hardship and beatings will you endure?

What “sinners” will you eat with? Who will you lovingly and persistently pursue to be winsome for?

PLAN IT OUT:

Make a list of those you will share.

Have a plan.

Share it with your family.

Set a timeframe.

Do it.

Celebrate it!

Give God the glory!

OTHER INFORMATION: “HOSANNA” on Palm Sunday

- "O LORD, save us, we pray!" / Hebrew: אָנָּא יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא / Greek: ὦ κύριε, σῶσον δή

English: "O LORD, save us, we pray!"

Hebrew: אָנָּא יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה נָּא

Greek: ὦ κύριε, σῶσον δή

, , ; - "Hosanna" / ὡσαννά

"Hosanna"

ὡσαννά

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