“And when the shepherd comes home,
he calls together his friends and his neighbors,
saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me,
for I have found my sheep that was lost!'”
– Jesus to the Pharisees “The Lost Sheep” (Luke 15:6)
In response to the Pharisees’ judgmental and cheerless spirit, Jesus emphasized the importance of joy in His parable of the Lost Sheep. Not only does the shepherd rejoice upon finding the sheep, but he also calls for a celebration when he arrives back in the village.
In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, the townspeople often shared shepherding responsibilities for their flocks, which meant that the loss of one sheep was a loss for the community and not just one owner. Consequently, when the shepherd would arrive safely back in the village, there would follow a time of jubilation and thanksgiving for his safe return. The joy of finding the lost sheep quickly spread beyond the shepherd to the community at large.
Jesus’ parable strikes at the heart of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy, for they were more concerned with their own righteous deeds than the people around them. Jesus’ mealtime manners created more of a stir for them than the “weightier matters of the law” that they themselves had neglected. Rather than celebrate over the repentance of those around them, the Pharisees were envious of the popularity that Jesus had with the people.
Today, Christ invites us to join with Him in celebration over those who have been saved. There is no room for envy, pride, or competition in the church of Jesus Christ. When the flesh reigns supreme in our lives and churches, joy is stifled and the “homecoming” celebration for the once-lost is met with passive indifference.
Jesus wants us to rejoice not only when someone is found by Him, but also as that someone grows spiritually mature through discipleship. The church is the place of joy where we, as Christians, share shepherding responsibilities in taking care of new believers.
Jubilation and thanksgiving should flow from the hearts of church members as they see lost people around them being found by the Good Shepherd, and then being discipled by His followers through the Holy Spirit.
