✟ Rejoicing Over the One Who Returns

In Luke 15:3-7, Jesus said, "If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away.”

When Jesus spoke these words, He was addressing religious leaders who could not understand why He would spend time with sinners. They were focused on the “ninety-nine” — those who appeared to be doing fine — while Jesus was focused on the one who was lost, hurting, and far from safety.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I experienced something that made this parable come alive in a very personal way. We feed a group of feral cats, and over time, they have become very dear to us. We watch over them, worry for them in extreme heat or cold, and do our best to make sure they have food and water.

One day, two small kittens came to us. They had been brought by one of our other feral cats, a black-and-white one we named Eliot. We soon discovered they had been abandoned by their mother. She had done the best she could to feed them and had weaned them, but then went into heat and left them on their own. We named the kittens Hondo and Smitty, after characters from John Wayne movies.

One day, Smitty disappeared. For two days, I could not find him. I was sick with worry. Every time I went outside, I looked for him. I prayed daily for his safety and return. I searched where I thought he might be, but there was no sign of him.

The burden on my heart for that one little kitten was heavy. I still fed the others, but my thoughts were always on Smitty. Would he make it? Was he hurt? Would I ever see him again?

This is a glimpse of the shepherd’s heart in Jesus’ parable. When one sheep goes missing, the shepherd does not shrug and say, “Well, at least I still have ninety-nine.” No—he leaves the ninety-nine in safety and goes searching until he finds the lost one. That’s the relentless love of God—He notices when we are missing, and He will not rest until we are found.

Then, one morning, Smitty came to breakfast with his brother Hondo and the other cats we feed. The moment I saw him, my heart leapt. I was in tears. I thanked God for answering my prayers and bringing him back. The worry and heartache of the past two days were replaced by pure joy.

That’s exactly what Jesus describes in the parable. The shepherd doesn’t scold the sheep for wandering. He doesn’t keep his distance. He joyfully lifts it onto his shoulders and carries it home. Then, he calls his friends and neighbors and says, “Rejoice with me!”

When a sinner returns to God, heaven throws a celebration. Angels rejoice. The Father’s heart is full. There is no cold reception, no list of demands—just open arms and joy.

When I saw Smitty safe and sound, I wanted to tell my wife right away. I wanted her to rejoice with me. That’s exactly what the shepherd does—he shares the news because the joy is too big to keep to himself.

Jesus tells us that heaven celebrates over one sinner who repents. Think about that—when you came to Christ, heaven celebrated you. The love of God is so personal that your return home caused a party in glory.

This parable isn’t just a beautiful picture of God’s love—it’s also a call for us to reflect that same love.

• We must notice when someone is missing from the flock.
• We must care enough to go searching.
• We must pray for the lost with the same urgency I felt for Smitty’s return.
• And when they do return, we must celebrate without reservation.

The church should never be a place where returning sinners feel judged or unwelcome. It should be a place where joy overflows because someone has come home.

When I saw Smitty again, I was reminded in a fresh way of God’s love for each of us. If a small kitten can stir such deep love and concern in my heart, how much more must the Creator of the universe love His children?

If you are the one who has wandered away, know this: the Shepherd is looking for you right now. He hasn’t given up. And when you return, He will rejoice over you with singing.

And for those of us already in the fold—let us carry the Shepherd’s heart into our relationships, loving people enough to search for them, pray for them, and celebrate when they return.

So, I say to you, “May the Lord strengthen your faith and use it for His glory, as you walk humbly in His presence.”