Title The Lost Sheep / Luke 15:1-7
Contents The Lost Sheep / Luke 15:1-7
The most important animal in the Bible is the sheep. In the Bible, the word “sheep” appears 750 times. Sheep were an integral part of the daily life of the Israelites. Therefore, for the Israelites, having a lot of sheep was a measure of wealth. Therefore, the shepherd spared no attention and consideration to the sheep. However, sheep are rather stupid animals, and the shepherd must always protect and guide them. Psalm 23:4, “Your rod and your staff comfort me”, is an expression of God’s love for the shepherd who pulls the neck of a sheep that strays with the staff and chases the wolves with the staff.
Two truths can be found in the parable of the “lost sheep” in the text. First, the shepherd goes first to find the lost sheep. The Bible says that God is the God who takes the first step to save lost humans.
Humans have the consciousness of ‘lost beings’. Illness, poverty, worry, old age, death, etc. What life is without it? If man's effort to find a transcendent being and to find his own existence through it is a religion, then Christianity does not belong there. The Bible does not speak of man who seeks God, but God who seeks for lost man. It is because God loves us. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Second, God is very pleased with the return of a “sheep”. This is the climax of this parable. The value of each sinner is so important. The Bible says that one person's life is more precious than the whole world (Mark 8:36).
Verse 1 is a parable for Jesus to explain the value of “one man” when the Pharisees and scribes criticize Jesus for having fellowship with tax collectors and other “sinners” (in their opinion).
“We have received this commandment from the Lord, and he who loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21) How is it true love to love a brother? What greater love could there be than to bring that soul to God? This is evangelism and missionary work. We should become Christians who do our best, knowing that our greatest mission is to lead our brothers to Jesus, the Good Shepherd.