September 18, 2025 - Luke 15

The parable of the lost sheep.  I remember preaching on this parable once, years ago.  In closing, I quoted the words of an old hymn:

“I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew

He moved my soul to seek him, seeking me;

It was not I that found, O Savior true,

No, I was found, was found of thee.”

The sheep is out in the wilderness.  The Shepherd goes out there in search of his lost sheep, finds him, and brings him into the fold.  The sheep doesn’t even know he is lost.  He is unconcerned.  But the Savior will not allow him to remain lost.  He goes and gets him!  “I was found, was found of thee!”  And then, there are the parables of the lost coin and the prodigal son.  Jesus has come into the world and he has come to seek and to save his own, which was lost.  Today’s verses are long but I have to include them all:

There were ninety and nine that safely lay

In the shelter of the fold

But one was out on the hills away,

Far off from the gates of gold—

Away on the mountains wild and bare,

Away from the tender Shepherd’s care.

Lord, thou hast here thy ninety and nine.

Are they not enough for thee?

But the Shepherd made answer: ‘Tis of mine

Has wandered away from me.

And although the road be rough and steep,

I go to the desert to find my sheep.

But none of the ransomed ever knew

How deep were the waters crossed,

Nor how dark was the night the Lord pass’d

Ere he found his sheep that was lost.

Out in the desert he heard its cry—

Sick and helpless and ready to die.

“Lord, what are these blood drops all the way

That mark out the mountain’s track?”

“They were shed for the one who’d gone astray

Ere the Shepherd could bring him back.

“Lord, why are these hands so rent and torn?”

“They’re pierced tonight by many a thorn.”

But all thru’ the mountains, thunder-riv’n,

And up from the rocky steep,

There rose such a cry to the gate of Heav’n,

“Rejoice, I have found my sheep!”

And the angels echoed around the throne,

“Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own!”   -- Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane (1868)