Forgiveness doesn't happen without someone getting hurt Part 2

Pastor-Teacher
John Farley
Sunday,
February 21, 2010

God’s plan throughout all the ages is that He might be glorified by the grace that He dispenses to undeserving creatures.

the lost sheep, LUK 15:4-7,
the lost coin, LUK 15:8-10,
the lost sons, LUK 15:11-32.

LOST
    FIND
        REJOICE
            RESTORE
        REJOICE
    FIND
LOST

Our Lord intentionally built this rhetorical structure by including this speech that parallels the earlier ABC.

That way it creates a climax
in the center.

LOST
    FIND
        REJOICE
            RESTORE
        REJOICE
    FIND
LOST

Our Lord intentionally built this rhetorical structure by including this speech that parallels the earlier ABC.

That way it creates a climax
in the center.

The climax is
the joy of restoration
that the shepherd wants
to share!

This teaching is an arrow of grace and it is meant to pierce your stubborn stony heart. Change your mind about Me!

In some mysterious way,
He has decreed things
in this way
so that He can share with us
His unfathomable joy.

When the shepherd sets out to find his lost sheep, he is taking his life in his hands.

Being killed by a wild beast while defending his flock was a commonly accepted occupational hazard of the shepherd profession.

John 10:11
“ I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

To protect himself and his flock from harm, the shepherd had weapons. He carried a heavy club, and this is what Psalm 23 calls a “rod”.

The shepherd was also equipped with a staff, which was not primarily a weapon although it was used as such on occasion.

When the sheep was tired or sick, the shepherd carried it on his shoulders.

When it was lost, the shepherd went to search for it.

ISA 53:6
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

A sheep, once lost, is terrified. It sits down, usually in as sheltered a place as is immediately available, and starts shaking and bleating.

It is in such a state of nervous collapse that it cannot stand or made to stand.

Worst of all, they can fall on their backs. This is what is known as a cast sheep. They are completely immobilized and exposed and are helpless and unable to right themselves.

If the sheep is to be restored to the flock, the shepherd has to pick it up, put it on his shoulders, and carry him back.

A shepherd who rejoices when he finds his lost sheep is doing so in the full knowledge that he is going to have one big ordeal in getting the sheep back home safely.

Ken Bailey gives this costly rescue by the shepherd a title: it is “the burden of restoration”.

“ Forgiveness doesn’t happen without someone getting hurt.”

What goes for the shepherd goes for our Lord Jesus Christ and His Father.

In this action of the shepherd, our Lord is teaching the Pharisees and us something about the meaning of His own suffering on the cross.

The sacrificial work of the shepherd alone saves the life of the sheep.

One single sheep is enough for the shepherd to be willing to put His life on the line .

You can hide when it’s the whole world.

But when you realize He came for YOU, you cannot escape giving Him your answer.

Our Lord Jesus Christ often does His best preaching and His best work when He has an audience of one.