luk 15v04 07 The Parable of The Lost Sheep
THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP
Luke 15:4-7
This parable is recorded to
illustrate one thing. IT SHOWS US THE DEEP, SELF-SACRIFICING LOVE OF THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR PERISHING SINNERS. It opens the very heart of the
eternal God and shows us how delightful it is to God to save sinners, because
"He delighteth in mercy" (Mic.
THE ONE HUNDRED REPRESENTS ALL MANKIND IN THIS WORLD. All the sons of Adam, both the righteous and the wicked belong to the Lord Jesus Christ as his creatures. All were made by him and all belong to him. And all people belong to Christ our Mediator and King. Whether willingly or unwillingly, all are his servants, under his sovereign dominion. God the Father has given Christ power, dominion, and authority over all flesh, so that he might give eternal life to all his elect (John 17:2).
THE NINETY AND NINE
REPRESENT THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PHARISEES OF THIS WORLD. In their own eyes
they are righteous and just, and need no repentance. They feel no need of a
Savior. They do not want mercy and grace. So they are left to perish in the
wilderness of their own ignorance. To them the Lord says, "The Son of Man
is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Matt.
AND THE ONE LOST SHEEP REPRESENTS ALL OF GOD'S ELECT IN THIS WORLD, LOST AND RUINED IN SIN. Christ, our Good Shepherd is totally consumed with seeking and saving his lost sheep. He seeks his sheep until he finds them. And when he finds his sheep, he lays it upon his shoulders and carries it safely home.
IN HIS INCARNATION the
Shepherd came after his lost sheep, IN HIS LIFE he continually sought
his sheep, IN HIS DEATH he laid the sheep upon his shoulders. IN HIS
RESURRECTION he bore the sheep on its way. And IN HIS ASCENSION he
brought it home rejoicing. Not one of the Shepherd's sheep shall perish. They
are his responsibility. He must, and he shall bring all his lost sheep safely
home rejoicing.