How Jesus taught that one lost person is valuable enough to him to pursue
by Ashley Wyder—
Jesus tells us an interesting parable in Luke chapter 15 of the New Testament (Injeel). Here it is:
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he 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.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." https://www.esv.org/Luke+15/
So there was this shepherd who had 100 sheep. Now one of the sheep somehow got lost. Some people would look and say who cares about that one, just leave it. It doesn't really matter. But Jesus tells us that is not how the shepherd responded. The shepherd left the 99 other sheep he had and went in search of the one sheep. When he found it, he carried it home on his shoulders and told all of his friends to rejoice with him. In John chapter 10 of the Injeel Jesus tells us that He is the good shepherd and He lays down His life for the sheep. He tells us that no one has the power to take His life away from Him but that He willingly laid it down himself. https://www.esv.org/John+10/
Now you might be saying that you're one of the 99, and that you don't need a shepherd to die for you because you never left and you were never attacked by anything, but in Romans 3:23 of the Injeel it says "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". (https://www.esv.org/Romans+3/) This leaves no one out. Also in the book of Romans of the New Testament (Injeel), a verse in chapter 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." https://www.esv.org/Romans+6/
The thing is, we have to choose to accept this gift. If we do, we will know God's voice. Also in the book of Romans v. 10:9 it says "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved." https://www.esv.org/Romans+10/ Again in John 10 of the Injeel it is recorded that Jesus said His sheep know His voice and they follow it, and that they will not follow a stranger. Are you following His voice or someone else's?