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Please read: Luke 15:1-7
Here we see in this parable an emphasis on Jesus, the Good Shepherd’s, love for even a single individual. In the parable of the Lost Son we see the Father’s unconditional and yearning love for the lost. This sheep, who has left the fold, is very precious to the Shepherd, so much so that he risks life and limb in searching for it until he finds it. And notice the joy when the Shepherd finds that one lost sheep for he calls all his friends and neighbours together and says to them, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.”
Jesus then uses irony to get his message across to those Pharisees and teachers of the law who had been muttering and grumbling and had clearly not taken to heart the reason why Jesus had come into this world,
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Luke 19:10
But they have not noted the teachings in their own Scriptures either; that there is no-one righteous in God’s sight:
The Lord looks down from heaven on all humankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Psalm 14:2-3; (cf. Ps. 53:2- 3)
Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
We have all sinned, we are all lost sheep and this is why we need a Saviour, the only Saviour, the Good-Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Let us stop trusting in our own goodness to get us to heaven and trust in Him and His goodness instead, Amen!
Quote of the week
“Before an individual can be saved, he must first learn that he cannot save himself.”
M. R. DeHann
Verse of the week
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
1 Timothy 1:15
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, help us by Your Spirit, to get alongside those who don’t know You, and to share with them, in loving deeds and words, the Good-News of abundant life in Jesus Christ, Amen!