George A. Buttrick, the pastor and author, wrote, “What is God like? Jesus answered the question.” (179) Jesus vividly and beautifully answered the question through this parable. Through the vehicle of this story, Jesus proclaims the truth that John later states so powerfully – “God is love.” 1 John 4:16 (NIV) Hear Buttrick again,
Matthew and Luke each record this parable. Luke sets it in the context of Jesus telling the religious elite, who were complaining about His choice of friends, that He came for all people and not just the socially acceptable. Matthew sets the parable in the context of believers who need to be welcomed back into the fellowship. While the context differs, the theme remains the same; love must be extended to those who are lost or who have wandered off. As we are reading from Matthew, we are focusing on the one who wanders off. What enticed him? One author answers, “Perhaps he himself is wayward or headstrong. He has left the flock: his life has no bond with his fellow man in love and high purpose. He has left the Shepherd: his life has no bond with God . . . but the man himself is still precious in Christ’s eyes.” (Buttrick 472) Have you lived the life of the wandering one? Did you leave the 99 to find a different hill? Are you still huddled alone away from the flock? Listen to the love in this story – a love story.
Burton Easton writes, “The shepherd might feel normal contentment in the possession of his flock and he naturally would have been better satisfied if none of the sheep had wandered, but he could experience joy only through such an event as this.” (quoted in Johnson 472) We see a profound love story when we look at a Shepherd who willingly goes searching, searching for the individual and who upon discovery is extremely happy – that is love. Yet, this is not a one-sided story. The searching should not be left alone to the Searcher. Craig Blomberg makes this clear by pointing us to the word “If” in verse 13, “If he finds . . .”
Just like all love stories, this love story needs a shared love. The sheep needs to want to return to the love of the shepherd. The sheep needs to remember the joy of love that he felt in the shepherd’s presence. We know the shepherd has joy in the reunion; in fact, Luke tells us in the same parable that the shepherd picks the sheep up and “joyfully puts it on his shoulders” Luke 15:5 (NIV). Peter Rhea Jones writes, “Since a straying sheep would often lie down helpless and refuse to stand up, it was necessary for the overjoyed shepherd to lift him to his strong shoulders for the return.” (204) The Father does not like to see His children wander; but when they do, like a caring shepherd, He finds joy in lifting us up and placing us on His strong shoulders. Have you found that Joy? (And that question is for everyone.) You may be wandering right now and you need that Joy. Or you may be with God right now but you have forgotten about how great a Joy His love really is. I want to remind you about a man that rediscovered the joy of God’s salvation and protection, and I might add he also knew a great deal about sheep. His name was David. David found joy again. How did he find it? We can find the answer in Psalm 51.
How did David find joy? He devoted time to get right with God – to restore his relationship with the Shepherd.
Wherever you are as you read this, I want to encourage you to reflect on the Joy of your salvation. Rediscover the Joy! #ordinarylives For further reading … Blomberg, Craig L. The New American Commentary. Ed. David S. Dockery. Vol. 22 Matthew. Nashville: Broadman, 1992. Buttrick, George A. The Interpreter’s Bible. Vol. 7. New York: Abingdon, 1951. Johnson, Sherman E. The Interpreter’s Bible. Ed. George Arthur Buttrick. Vol. 7. New York: Abingdon, 1951. Jones, Peter Rhea. Studying the Parables of Jesus. Macon, GA: Smyth & Helwys, 1999.
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