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Brendan Alexander G10D: The Parable of the Lost Sheep Part 2 - Coggle…
Brendan Alexander G10D: The Parable of the Lost Sheep Part 2
(Source of Parable) Luke 15: 1-7
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
Then Jesus told them this parable: “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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I 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.
How does the Shepherd (God) take care of his sheep (us)?
Proof 1: By guiding us through his voice
"The voice of the shepherd is known to the sheep" from John 10: 4-5
In this verse, God's voice represents His holy words. Those who believe in Him trusts in Him and follows His words. However, if we do not listen to His words or if we don't apply it, then there is a high probability we will return to the sinful path, just like the sheep who went astray.
This is a quote from Mother Theresa:
“My secret is a very simple one: I pray, Prayer is simply talking to God He speaks to us; we listen. We speak to him; he listens. A two way process Speaking and listening."
This quote tells us that we can talk to God through prayer. However, this does not mean that prayer is just us talking without listening. Praying is like a conversation with God. Both of us must talk, but both of us must also listen. When one talks, the other must listen. This is important to keep in mind during prayer to remember that when we pray, we must also listen and apply what God wants us to do.
Proof 2: His love for us through His sacrifice
John 10:11 tells the story of Jesus who sacrificed his life in order to fend for the sheep he was protecting against the wolves who came to slaughter the sheep.
This verse represents Jesus' crucifixion. Through his sacrifice, we were saved from our sins and we are once able again to enter God's kingdom. The wolves represent the devil who tries to lead us astray. God sent his one and only son to die on the cross and sacrifice Himself for us. This shows that God's love for us is truly eternal and infinite; that he would do anything to save us from our sins.
This can also be applied in our lives by always remembering Jesus' sacrifice for us. After all that He has sacrificed for us, we should try our best to not sin. By remembering His love for us, we can fight off the temptations of sin.
Why does he protect us?
Proof 1: We are helpless and weak on our own
Psalm 103: 14 mentions that, "For He Himself knows what we are, He remembers that we are dust."
This shows that we are nothing but dust that God has given life to. This shows that we are utterly weak and helpless. We need the strength and love of God to help us fight off sin.
Sheep, the animal we are represented as, is often characterized by its foolish nature. They easily get lost if without guidance and that they often just wander off to the hills where the grasses are greener. This represents that we are easily tempted and deceived by sin that we often get lost. Furthermore, just like how the sheep always goes to the greener grasses, it also shows how we often avoid our problems and choose pleasure (sin) instead of what's righteous.
Proof 2: We are stubborn
Sheep are very stubborn and that they would not change their mindsets. They are unable to be taught tricks and that they often lead themselves to a dangerous path and get trapped. This shows how we are also sometimes blinded by sin that we become stubborn. This also shows that sometimes we also lead ourselves to the temptations of sin because of our stubbornness and eventually get stuck on that sin. Hence, we need God's help to allow us to break free from that temptation.
Proof 3: We are unable to take care of ourselves
Just like sheep, we are unable to defend ourselves from predators (the devils who try to deceit us). We also can't predict what would happen in the future just like the sheep. Hence, we need God's protection and guidance (just like the shepherd protecting his sheep) in order to keep us safe from those temptations of sin.
Further Proof
In Jesus' time, those who owned a lot of sheep must employ a shepherd to take care of those sheep. This shepherd knows every single sheep by its name and always counts them daily. This represents how God knows each and every one of us.
When sheep gets stuck, they cannot do anything about their situation. They can only wait for someone that would eventually help them return. In Jesus' time, the shepherd would usually carry the sheep on his back and bring the sheep home. Sheep are often heavy (around 32kg). This shows that no matter how sinful we are or of a burden we are (metaphorized by the heavy weight of the sheep), God will always bring us home to the right path and save us from sin. This also shows us that we are unable to do anything about our situation until we open our hearts and believe in God, who will save us from our sins.
This proves that God loves us not because we are strong or smart, but because we are weak and helpless. Hence, we should not be arrogant and think we can solve everything on our own. We should also not avoid those who are more sinful since we must help them as well. This shows that we must humble ourselves and that we depend on God to save us from our sins.
John 10: 7 says that Jesus is the door for the sheep. Hence, this means that we can only enter God's kingdom through completely believing in Jesus. Furthermore, a shepherd would even stay up late at night outside to continue guarding his sheep, just like how God will protect us from sin at all times.
Luke 15: 6 mentions, “And when he arrived home he called his friends and neighbors and said To them, Rejoice with me, for the sheep that were lost I have found it. “
This proves that God will save everyone, no matter their sins. Furthermore, he will rejoice more over those that repents rather than those who do not need to repent at all. Hence, when we sin, we must always repent and beg God for forgiveness. We should also not judge others who are more sinful since if they repent, they can be a stronger believer.
John 10: 3 mentions that, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
Calling by their name shows honor and respect. Because Jesus calls us by our names, we are important to Him and that He cherishes and loves us. Furthermore, because He knows each and every one of our names, He knows each and everyone of us. He knows every single thing about us. This shows that He cares about us and will always protect us at all situations. "Leads them out" shows that God will lead us out from the temptations of sin and will save us.