Friday, 12th January 2024
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
V1-2 “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”” All the tax collectors and sinners, who were not favoured by the Jewish people at the time, they were not welcomed, were gathered together and went close to Jesus. They tried hard, deliberately strived to approach Jesus. They forced themselves to be close to Jesus so they could hear Jesus’ teaching. The Pharisees and teachers of the law could not accept their action and their attitude.
A lot of times when we come to church, we don’t like to listen to teaching and disciplines. We only want to hear words of joy and encouragement. When do we want to receive when we come close to Jesus? Why do we want to hear words that please us? Because we feel we need the encouragement to keep going with our lives. But do we really rely on God in everything we do? We often want things we desire to happen, we want to hear certain things from God and from our Pastor, and we don’t want to hear certain things.
God’s Word is our bread of life, it is different to what’s given to us from this world. We come to the house of God, we come close to God, what do we really desire and what do we really need? We need God to talk to us, to guide us, to teach us, so we do t get lost and we don’t walk astray. The tax collectors and sinners at Jesus’ time were not accepted by the society and they were upset that Jesus welcomed them and accepted them.
V3-5 “So He spoke this parable to them, saying: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” We all want to be accepted and we all want to be heard. When we are not accepted and welcomed then we may be offended and we may feel our values are lost. But who decide on our values in life? No the people, we don’t live to please God, we don’t serve to please people, but to please God. We preach the Word of God to light up the temple of God, let this light shine upon this world of darkness.
In Ezekiel 34:16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” This is God’s promise, this is God’s Will, He wants to find every one of us. He wants all of us to come together and rejoice.
V6-7 “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Do we live to help people to come to God?Do we strive to bring people to the Temple of God? Do we see the lost sheep? Stand in the same level of God, and see what God treasure the most. He wants to bring back the lost, and He wants everyone to be saved. This is the Will of God. He is not satisfied with just the 99 sheep and He wants to bring back the one lost sheep.
Jesus’ teaching was for the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, they are the lost sheep. Do we also help those who’s lost their way to come home? Preaching the gospel and teaching seem useless, but God wants us to never stop trying. When a sinner repented, the Heaven will also rejoice with them. Do not stay in our comfort status, do not be satisfied with the status quo. We want to have more people in our congregation, we want to build up our church. But do we really have the heart for the lost souls?
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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