This week we are looking at the famous parable of the lost sheep. Jesus tells this story of a shepherd leaving a large herd seemingly unattended to go after one wayward sheep. Modern ears hear that story and begin to wonder about professional negligence, but his original audience would have heard clear echoes of Ezekiel 34 - a passage aimed directly at spiritual leaders. Additionally, the context is telling. Jesus gives three parables in a row about searching for lost things (eg, a lost sheep, a lost coin, and a lost son), but all come in response to grumbling leaders. What is it about muttering and grumbling that elicits such a strong corrective from Jesus? Why does he regard such discontentedness as so deadly for our spiritual lives? What kind of joy does he offer that could heal our discontent? Let's talk about the joy of heaven hidden in the math of "99-to-1" (Luke 15:1-7).
