
Who Is Jesus? | Jesus pursues the lost
Pastor Nate San
1Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3Then Jesus told them this parable: 4“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:1–7, NIV)
1) We can get lost by:
a) Following our appetites.
b) Getting mixed up with another herd.
c) Being carried off by the predator.
“Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3)
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27)
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15)
5And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. (Luke 15:5 – 6)
2) Jesus is looking for party people.
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ (Luke 15:6)
How do we respond?
If you fall short and have wandered from God, hear His voice in these passages and trust Him to carry you on his shoulder and bring you home to Himself.
If you are following God, does it bring it joy when you see others come to know Him? Begin to ask how you can help recover the lost.