Juggling the One Lamb (August 31, 2025)

Luke 15:3–7 ~ “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.”

Let’s set the stage for this parable. In verse 1 & 2, we find that tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to Jesus. As we see the sinners drawing near to Jesus, this tells us that they were hungry for His message. They have heard of him, about him, and realize they need something in their lives. They are also acknowledging their great need. Many worked for the Roman government and they were considered traitors to both Israel and God. They were despised by the people and also cut off from the religionists, meaning no access to scripture and God. So when Christ came along preaching deliverance from sin and hope of the Kingdom of God, they flocked to Him.

We also find the religious leaders grumbling and their attitude was tragic. They grumbled against Jesus because He associated and ate with terrible sinners. They felt it was beneath the dignity of any respectable person to associate with such vile sinners. We must realize that Christ was not and is not, nor should we be, part of this world, but He was out in the world trying to reach man for God.

Now, let’s look at the parable. We find sheep. Sheep are animals that flock together and are followers. They are also visual animals that move away from perceived threats, preferring to graze on high ground in lighted areas and avoid dark spaces. However, we said that sheep are followers, this means they have a powerful herd instinct, remaining in a flock for safety, but follower a leader, even into a dangerous situation.

As Jesus is talking about sheep, they are lost. In this parable, the sheep represents the unbeliever, the sinner who wanders out into the wilderness of the world, the one who has gone astray and is lost to God, the one who is following the wrong leader in to a dangerous situation. How does the sheep loose itself?

• The sheep is attracted by something out “in the wilderness,” away from the flock of the shepherd. What the sheep sees is more attractive and appealing. It tempts and seduces him, and he lusts after it.

• The sheep is aimless, not paying attention to what is going on. It aimlessly wanders off, and while it is getting lost, the sheep does not know it is losing its way. The sheep is already lost when it discovers it has lost its way.

• The sheep refuses to heed the warnings of the shepherd and the example of the other sheep.

• The sheep is not attached enough to the shepherd or to the other sheep. There is not the bond or union there should be. Therefore, he stays off by himself, eating and resting and working alone until eventually he wanders off without anyone’s knowing it, including himself.

• The sheep does not trust the shepherd. It does not think the shepherd will take care and see that there is satisfying food. It goes astray in search of greener pasture and more satisfying food.

As we notice, we are talking about those unbelievers, those that are lost, those that haven’t come to hear the goodness of God. These are those that are looking to the world to fill a void in their lives. The world has so much to offer, wonders and thrill to experience … occupation, purpose, lifestyle, acceptance, ego, self-esteem, recognition, privilege, honor, position, image, plenty, wealth, opportunity, satisfaction, authority, and power. The world stimulates and arouses a man, causing … his blood to rush, his heart to beat faster, goose bumps, butterflies, desires, cravings, escape, and relaxation.

1 John 2:15–16 ~ “15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

As children of God, we must seek after the sheep that are lost. The sheep that the shepherd is going after was once a part of the fold, but now is lost and needed to be sought after. It was this sheep that needed the attention of the shepherd and was to occupy the time, energy, and effort of the shepherd. As long as the sheep was lost, seeking it was the primary purpose and reason for the shepherd. (What a lesson for the church and ministers!)

As the search for the lost sheep happens, we must realize that the search is urgent. In the parable, the shepherd seeks until he find the sheep. He did not seek complacently or slowly, as though there were plenty of time. Nor did he give up, despite the difficulties that lay along the rough terrain and the weariness of the long hours and the tediousness of running into dead end after dead end. He sought and kept on seeking until he found the lost sheep. He never slackened, never backed off, never gave up. When the shepherd found the sheep, he embraced the sheep and threw it over his shoulders to bring back to the fold.

The summary … all sheep need to be in the fold, all sheep need to follow the shepherd. How is the shepherd supposed to lead if the sheep are not in the fold together?