Notice the contrast at the start: Tax collectors and sinners want to listen, but the Pharisees and scribes want to complain. Don't miss that. It sets up the whole story.
- Jesus knows how many sheep He has. Perhaps He knows this from His omniscience. Maybe He counts. Are you one of His sheep?
- Each sheep matters to Jesus. The ninety-nine matter. The one matters. Jesus knows what's good for the group and what's good for the individual.
- To Jesus, seeking one is more important than comforting many. Priority #1 is to seek (Lu 19:10). There is a hint of negative reaction from the ninety-nine. That will always happen when priority #1 remains priority #1.
- Jesus will find the lost sheep. ("When He has found it...") Let that be a hope for you who are praying for wayward family.
- The one sheep was lost because it needed to repent. It did more than just stray. Straying leads to playing and playing leads to separation. What grace Jesus shows: He seeks out the one sheep that everyone else labels a "bad" or "rebellious" sheep. (If you don't think that's you, read Isaiah 53:6.)
- When the one comes hope (repents), there is joy in heaven. Why is there not more joy on earth? Only Jesus' friends and neighbors -- those close to Him and those who share His heart -- can rejoice. If you do not get excited about sinners coming to repentance, maybe you don't know Jesus like you think you do.
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