Hope Culminates in Joy

Luke 15:1-7 (ESV)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

So he told them this parable: “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? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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.’ 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. 


Reflection

In today’s reading, Jesus gives three hypothetical stories with economic implications. First, the word that Jesus used for sin (hamartólos) translates to someone who forfeits by missing the mark. So, when the scripture states that Jesus was sitting and eating with sinners, we can safely infer that they were actively choosing to “miss the mark” – not the supposed “Godly” people of the day.

Second, regarding the lost sheep, some might conclude that one percent is not a lot, collectively, so it’s strange that an ordinary shepherd would go after a, seemingly, insignificant loss. However, it’s not, necessarily, that the sheep was insignificant compared to the rest of the herd – it was that the sheep, in the eyes of the shepherd, was very valuable.

Historical and Biblical experts have suggested that the economic loss of a male sheep was a lot - nearly one month’s wages to be exact! The loss of a female sheep (which could be pregnant and carrying a lamb) was worth even more. Thus, the motivation of a shepherd to recover one lost sheep is clear: even though one sheep amounted to only one percent of a hypothetical herd, the need to replace that sheep would result in a great, personal loss to the shepherd.

This would explain why the shepherd would have celebrated with such joy once that lost sheep returned. Something else struck me as interesting: Jesus notes the shepherd placed the lost sheep on his shoulders. Why did Jesus introduce this feature? I think it’s possible that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was signaling His coming trial and crucifixion: He chose to take the sinner’s death penalty and their many sins on His shoulders so that they could be cleared of all charges and rightfully returned to the community – or in flock terms, “the fold”.

Jesus made a perfectly, personal point of His great love for His wayward children. God is aware of where a lost sinner is and what they are going through, and He will zealously celebrate them when they come home because every sinner is loved and valuable.


Action Steps

Take a moment and prayerfully consider someone in your life whom you know is purposefully choosing to “miss the mark”. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you minister or witness to that person and that God can use you to be a part of that person’s “coming home” story.


Prayer
 
Loving Father, I recognize that I was once lost and that without You, I would most certainly be helpless. I understand that Your love for sinners was so great that You sacrificed Yourself for their eternal safety. And I know that it brings You incredible joy when a lost soul repents and comes to this realization. Please help me to represent You to the best of my ability to those who are lost and searching. It’s in Your perfect name I pray, Amen.