Searching For The Lost

JESUS is eager to seek and find those will humbly serve God. So he searches out and talks to everyone about the Kingdom, including notorious sinners. Such persons now draw near to listen to him. Observing this, the Pharisees and scribes criticize Jesus for keeping company with people whom they consider unworthy. They mutter: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." How far beneath their dignity that is! The Pharisees and scribes treat common people like dirt under their feet. In fact, they use the Hebrew expression 'am ha-'a'rets, "people of the land [earth]," to show the disdain they have for such ones.

On the other hand, Jesus treats everyone with dignity, kindness and compassion. As a result, many of these lowly ones,including person who are well-known for practicing wrong-doing, are eager to listen to him. But what of the Pharisees' criticism of Jesus for expending efforts in behalf of those they consider unworthy?

Jesus answers their objection by using an illustration. He speaks from the Pharisees' own viewpoint, as though they are righteous and are safe in the fold of God, while the despicable 'am ha-' a'rets have gone astray and are in a lost state. Listen as he asks: What man of you with a hundred sheep, on losing one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine behind in the wilderness and go for the lost one until he finds it? And when ha s found it he puts it upon his shoulders and rejoices. And when he gets home he calls his friends and his neighbors together, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.'"

Jesus then make the application of his story, explaining: "I tell you that thus there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who have no need of repentance.

The Pharisees consider themselves to be righteous and thus to have no need of repentance. When some of them criticized Jesus a couple of years earlier for eating with tax collectors and sinners, he told them: "I came to call, not righteous people, but sinners." The self-righteous Pharisees, who fail to see their need to repent, bring no joy in heaven. But truly repentant sinners do.

Next time:Conclusion of Searching For The Lost

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991