Finding the Lost

This is so beautiful! In Matthew 18:12-14 Jesus again reveals His heart. He talks about a man having one hundred sheep and when one goes astray, he leaves the ninety-nine in order to find the one. And when he finds it he “rejoices more over it than the ninety-nine that did not get lost.” That word “lost” in Greek means more than misplaced or unable to find something. It is apollumi and means to destroy, perish, die. Since all of us were lost, dead in sin and perishing due to Adam’s sin and then our own, we all needed to be “found.” So Jesus is talking about us! We are that stray sheep. And each one of us is important to Him.

As I’ve said many times, numbers in the Bible have meaning. The number “one” is the number for God. “Here, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) He is the Creator. The 100 sheep are His creation. He made them and He owns them. Thus only God Himself can restore His creation to Himself. When Adam sinned and strayed from God it left the number 99 and foretold the method of God’s restoration. Nine is the number of judgment and finality. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani, which means, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me . . . And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed out His life.” (Mark 15:34;37 Amplified). It was finished. With His death, the Good Shepherd provided the means of rescuing the sheep.

But notice this part. Jesus rejoices over being able to rescue us, actually rejoices over the fact that His death and payment can bring back the lost if they are willing to be found. Because of His great love, the emphasis of Jesus’ heart is on the joy of it all rather than on the sacrifice. But it is for us to understand this great sacrifice and to accept it. If we don’t, then there’s no way our Great Shepherd can restore us and make us part of His flock.

Who is like our God? Is there a more gentle, loving Savior anywhere? Has anyone done more for us than Jesus? He wants so badly to restore us to Himself. He has done everything possible to make that happen. He has given everything while our part is so small. We have only to accept it. In the face of all this, how can His love not draw us to Him?

Until next time,

Sylvia