To explain to these educated and authoritative leaders why Jesus does what he does, Jesus uses a story (parable). Parables are not meant to be read literally and historically, but they are rooted in truth. Jesus uses these stories to explain heavenly truths to earthly minds. Jesus makes it plain, simple and relatable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He tells them. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n(3) So He spoke this parable to them, saying:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(4) \u201cWhat man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What is the relationship of this shepherd with the sheep? Just a business expense? The National Sheep Association in the U.K. considers 10-15% lamb loss<\/strong> acceptable. In the U.S.A. and Canada, losses rarely exceed 10%,<\/strong> but there are still expected and acceptable losses for the flock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
- What does this tell us about the shepherd\u2019s relationship with the sheep?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Can you think of something\u2014or someone\u2014you would search for at all costs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In this story, the shepherd does not treat a 1% loss as acceptable. Was Jesus wrong to use this story and make it relatable? No, because for a good shepherd, in an ideal world, there would be no losses. For a loving shepherd, he would try his best, and even risk his life, to make sure that the lost sheep would be found. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n(5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, \u2018Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(7)<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lost Coin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(8) \u201cOr what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(9) And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, \u2018Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!\u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(10) Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Okay, maybe you don\u2019t have sheep in your backyard, and this doesn\u2019t apply to you. But you do have riches of some sort, something precious to you, like the woman with the coin. Even now, we obsess over coins. Cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Doge coin) as an industry, totaled an estimate of 2.5 trillion dollars<\/strong> as of this month. Imagine losing your riches, you would sweep your (metaphorical) house carefully and meticulously. No metaphorical pillow, rug, or furniture would be unturned in order to find it. But for some, this is not metaphorical. A man named James Howells lost his bitcoin wallet by accidentally throwing away the hard drive that contained the bitcoins, in the trash. It was worth $500 million dollars<\/strong>. He spent years searching a landfill to look for the hard drive. In total, he spent 12 years looking for it (2013-2025) and quit searching just this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shepherd, the woman, you and me, have felt this kind of loss that affects us deeply. It feels like the purpose for living has been lost, and we don\u2019t care about how much we will sacrifice, in order to get it back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Why does Jesus use both a shepherd and<\/em> a woman to tell the same truth?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What different perspectives do these characters offer?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
That is why, when the sheep and the coin were found, there was joy! It was a joy they couldn\u2019t contain – they had to share it to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n(6)<\/em> \u201cHe calls his <\/em>friends. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(9)<\/em> \u201cShe calls her <\/em>friends. . .\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
They called all of their friends, and asked them to rejoice with them. This is a birthday, New Years, 4th of July worthy event! It\u2019s not news we can keep to ourselves. This is the love Jesus has for the lost who has been found. Jesus sacrificed himself to seek and to save the lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who are the lost? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Those of use who rejected <\/strong>God\u2019s perfect will and have embraced <\/strong>our limited will.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\nIsaiah 53:6 \u201cAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Those of us who have sinned, not meeting the perfect standard of godliness<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\nRomans 3:23 \u2013 \u201cFor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s all of us! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPsalms 14:1-3 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll have turned away, all have become corrupt;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
there is no one who does good,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/em> <\/em>not even one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The shepherd and the woman gave their all to seek what was precious to them. God himself sacrificed, giving His all (His one and only Son Jesus) in order to save those precious to Him. You are precious to Him. You might be lost today, and not know it. But know now, Jesus had only one thing in His mind when He left heaven\u2019s throne and came to live in the world we live in – that is to save you, me, and the world.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nLuke 19:10 \u201cFor the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\nJohn 3:16 \u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
- What do these parables reveal about how God sees you<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do you truly believe you are that<\/strong> valuable to God?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who is someone in your life that might be \u201clost\u201d\u2014and worth pursuing?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Lost Sheep and Coin (v.3-10) To explain to these educated and authoritative leaders why Jesus does what he does, Jesus uses a story (parable). Parables are not meant to be read literally and historically, but they are rooted in truth. Jesus uses these stories to explain heavenly truths to earthly minds. Jesus makes it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n
The Lost Sheep and Coin (v.3-10)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To explain to these educated and authoritative leaders why Jesus does what he does, Jesus uses a story (parable). Parables are not meant to be read literally and historically, but they are rooted in truth. Jesus uses these stories to explain heavenly truths to earthly minds. Jesus makes it plain, simple and relatable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He tells them. . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n(3) So He spoke this parable to them, saying:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(4) \u201cWhat man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What is the relationship of this shepherd with the sheep? Just a business expense? The National Sheep Association in the U.K. considers 10-15% lamb loss<\/strong> acceptable. In the U.S.A. and Canada, losses rarely exceed 10%,<\/strong> but there are still expected and acceptable losses for the flock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
- What does this tell us about the shepherd\u2019s relationship with the sheep?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Can you think of something\u2014or someone\u2014you would search for at all costs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In this story, the shepherd does not treat a 1% loss as acceptable. Was Jesus wrong to use this story and make it relatable? No, because for a good shepherd, in an ideal world, there would be no losses. For a loving shepherd, he would try his best, and even risk his life, to make sure that the lost sheep would be found. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n(5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, \u2018Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(7)<\/em> <\/em><\/strong>I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lost Coin<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(8) \u201cOr what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(9) And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, \u2018Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!\u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
(10) Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Okay, maybe you don\u2019t have sheep in your backyard, and this doesn\u2019t apply to you. But you do have riches of some sort, something precious to you, like the woman with the coin. Even now, we obsess over coins. Cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Doge coin) as an industry, totaled an estimate of 2.5 trillion dollars<\/strong> as of this month. Imagine losing your riches, you would sweep your (metaphorical) house carefully and meticulously. No metaphorical pillow, rug, or furniture would be unturned in order to find it. But for some, this is not metaphorical. A man named James Howells lost his bitcoin wallet by accidentally throwing away the hard drive that contained the bitcoins, in the trash. It was worth $500 million dollars<\/strong>. He spent years searching a landfill to look for the hard drive. In total, he spent 12 years looking for it (2013-2025) and quit searching just this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shepherd, the woman, you and me, have felt this kind of loss that affects us deeply. It feels like the purpose for living has been lost, and we don\u2019t care about how much we will sacrifice, in order to get it back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Why does Jesus use both a shepherd and<\/em> a woman to tell the same truth?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What different perspectives do these characters offer?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
That is why, when the sheep and the coin were found, there was joy! It was a joy they couldn\u2019t contain - they had to share it to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n(6)<\/em>\u00a0 \u201cHe calls his <\/em>friends. . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(9)<\/em> \u201cShe calls her <\/em>friends. . .\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
They called all of their friends, and asked them to rejoice with them. This is a birthday, New Years, 4th of July worthy event! It\u2019s not news we can keep to ourselves. This is the love Jesus has for the lost who has been found. Jesus sacrificed himself to seek and to save the lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who are the lost? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Those of use who rejected <\/strong>God\u2019s perfect will and have embraced <\/strong>our limited will.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\nIsaiah 53:6 \u201cAll we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Those of us who have sinned, not meeting the perfect standard of godliness<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
\nRomans 3:23 \u2013 \u201cFor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s all of us! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nPsalms 14:1-3 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll have turned away, all have become corrupt;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 there is no one who does good,<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/em> <\/em>not even one.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The shepherd and the woman gave their all to seek what was precious to them. God himself sacrificed, giving His all (His one and only Son Jesus) in order to save those precious to Him. You are precious to Him. You might be lost today, and not know it. But know now, Jesus had only one thing in His mind when He left heaven\u2019s throne and came to live in the world we live in - that is to save you, me, and the world.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nLuke 19:10 \u201cFor the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\nJohn 3:16 \u201cFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n
- What do these parables reveal about how God sees you<\/em>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do you truly believe you are that<\/strong> valuable to God?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who is someone in your life that might be \u201clost\u201d\u2014and worth pursuing?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-devo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=239"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":270,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/239\/revisions\/270"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/revelationchurch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}