“So, he told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 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 that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.'” – Luke 15:4-7
“And He said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.'” – Luke 23:43
Was there joy at the foot of the cross? I don’t mean the smug smiles of the jealous Pharisees or the mild amusements of the soldiers and their gambling games, I’m talking about the joy of a sinner coming into the Kingdom…the lost being found. Our hymns and traditions talk a lot about the “weeping” of all of heaven as Jesus was dying on the cross for our sins, but I believe Jesus…once again…reminds us through this “eleventh hour” conversion that there is joy when salvation is experienced.
Yes, there was joy around the cross! Jesus told us in the Scripture above that there is a party in heaven when even one sinner repents. What did the angels think when they heard the party music start up? Even while on the cross Jesus was bringing lost sheep home! He was, once again, turning heaven and earth upside down. He was carrying the thief into heaven on His bloody shoulders calling together the hosts of heaven,
“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!”
Yes, there was joy around the cross! All of heaven was rejoicing over this one who had been found! Even the thief must have experienced the joy of being redeemed and loved even through his physical pain. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was rejoicing that a lost sheep was found! Yes, there was joy, but what about the small group of disciples?
Again we need to be reminded that our source for these words of Jesus are a small group of women and the disciple John. What did they think when they heard Jesus speak words of forgiveness from the cross? What was their reaction when He showed mercy to the criminal in response to his request? Even the beloved John must have been a little taken aback when Jesus offered this “riff-raff” a golden ticket to Paradise. Or…maybe…they remembered what Jesus taught them about the lost sheep and the lost coin…the lost son.
“When the lost is found…those at home throw a party!”
Many of us have forgotten the joy of being found and when others find their way we find ourselves more in line with the older brother in that famous parable…”Where’s my party? I have been faithful all these years and this guy gets in at the last minute?” (Luke 15:25-30).
I believe that when John and the others shared this story with those in the upper room that there was joy. I can imagine some smiling and shaking their heads saying, “Well, that’s just like Jesus”
Let us renew the joy of our salvation today and share the love of Jesus with others that need it so they can too.