Jesus often taught by using stories or asking people what they would do in a certain situation. Let's look at one of these times in Luke 15. In the very first sentence, we learn that many tax collectors and other 'sinners' are gathering around Jesus. This angers the Pharisees and teachers of the law who see themselves as much better than a 'sinner,' and they don't understand why Jesus would even be talking to them. That is when Jesus tells the following story about a man and his lost sheep.
"He said, "Suppose one of you has 100 sheep and loses one of them. Won't he leave the 99 in the open country? Won't he go and look for the one lost sheep until he finds it? When he finds it, he will joyfully put it on his shoulders and go home. Then he will call his friends and neighbors together. He will say, 'Be joyful with me. I have found my lost sheep.' "I tell you, it will be the same in heaven. There will be great joy when one sinner turns away from sin. Yes, there will be more joy than for 99 godly people who do not need to turn away from their sins." Luke 15:4-7
He is telling the people who think they are too good to be around "sinners" that those people matter to God more than the people who don't think they need Him. At the same time, He is also letting the less desirables know that they actually do matter to God very much. God would leave the 99 'righteous' sheep to search for and find the one missing lamb! The truth of the matter is that we have ALL sinned and need God's forgiveness, whether we realize that or not. It is not that the Pharisees did not need God's forgiveness, but just as they were blind to the fact that God in the flesh was with them, they were blind to the fact that they did need to be forgiven. When we realize our need for forgiveness, repent, and accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, there is great joy in Heaven!
Listen to the words in this song and let it sink in that God loves YOU that much!