A Retelling of Luke 15:1-6
Lydia Mulkey
March 16, 2021
Once, Jesus was teaching the good news about God. All the tax collectors and sinners really needed some good news, so they were coming near to listen to him. But, the religious leaders were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
How could Jesus tell them that the good news about God was especially for the people who the religious leaders did not like and called sinners?
He decided to tell them this story…
“If you are a good shepherd and you have a hundred sheep and you lose one of them, I know you will leave the ninety-nine sheep that are safe and sound, and go after the one that is lost! When you find your precious lost sheep, you feel so happy that you carry your sheep on your shoulders and celebrate! When a good shepherd like you comes home, they call their friends and neighbors to come to a party and say, ‘Celebrate with me! I have found my sheep that was lost!’ That’s what it’s like when one sinner changes their heart and learns to make good choices. God throws a bigger party in heaven over one sinner who hears the good news and chooses God’s way than over ninety-nine people who were already doing the right thing.”
How could Jesus tell them that the good news about God was especially for the people who the religious leaders did not like and called sinners?
I think Jesus was using this parable to appeal to his listeners’ better angels. “I know you would leave your 99 sheep to go after the one that was lost! God is like that too! You are like God, see!? Now leave me to minister to the people who actually need me.”
How do we find ourselves in this story? Sometimes we are the ones in need. Sometimes we need to offer God’s good news to someone else. Sometimes God throws us a party. Sometimes we are invited to celebrate another. God may not be throwing the party for us, but there is always something to celebrate.
Dear God, May we celebrate one another every chance we get. Amen.