Written in Red: Rediscovering the words of

JesusLost and Found

 

LUK 15:1 Now all the tax-gatherers and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him.

LUK 15:2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

 LUK 18:10 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.11 "The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. 12 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.

'13 "But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted." 

THE LOST SHEEPLUK 15:3 And He told them ( the pharisees) this parable, saying, 4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?

The shepherd seeks out the lost sheepEZE 34:11 For thus says the Lord God, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.  

1SA 17:34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock,35 I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 

1PE 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

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24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 

5 "And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, ( it weighs between 100 and 200 pounds) rejoicing. 6 "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 which was lost!'7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 

 THE LOST COINLUK 15:8 "Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 

 9 "And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!'10 "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."   

MAT 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.30 "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." 

JOH 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" 

Main Point: A lost world needs to hear the good news of Jesus, not the bad news of bad behavior.