Week 2 to Week 3
Matthew 15.1-7
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
We spoke of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The children reminded us, as we sat in our small time before Sunday School, that Jesus finds us when we are lost, like this one lost sheep. I never worry about a wrong answer from them, just that they will give too good of an answer and give the whole message before we get there in the process. This image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd will stay with us to lead us into our next week. Our next week will take us to Jesus as the Prince of Peace.
I think we see that Prince of Peace in the actions of the shepherd who goes after the one lost sheep. Restoring the lost sheep, returning it to the fold and the place where it belongs. Restoration of the way things are meant to be. This will be a part of our focus on the way Jesus brings peace. That he restores us to our place. Peace/Shalom, the restoration of right order.
The blessing of shalom requests that all things will be as they are supposed to be. We wish that on all people. Seeking the place of belonging that comes as Jesus restores us as both Shepherd and Prince of Peace.