A Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin, and a Lost Son
Three parables about God’s love
Some Jewish leaders saw Jesus talking and eating with people who they thought were sinners. The leaders thought it was wrong for Jesus to eat with sinners. Jesus told the leaders three stories or parables to help them understand that He wants to help everyone repent and how happy He is when they do.
The first parable was about a man who had 100 sheep. One of his sheep became lost.
The man left the other 99 sheep and went looking for the lost one. He kept looking until he found it.
When he finally found his lost sheep, he was so happy! He carried the sheep home on his shoulders and told his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. Jesus said this is how Heavenly Father feels when someone repents of their sins and returns to Him.
The second parable was about a woman who had 10 silver coins. When she lost one, she lit a candle and swept her house, looking for the lost coin. She kept looking until she found it.
When she finally found her lost coin, she was so happy! She told her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her. Jesus said this is how the angels in heaven feel when someone repents of their sins.
The third parable was about a man who had two sons. The younger son didn’t want to live with his father anymore. He asked his father to give him his part of the family’s money now. Then the son left home and went to a country far away.
The son made some very bad choices. He wasted the money his father had given him.
After his money was all gone, he was very hungry. No one would give him anything to eat. He finally found a job feeding pigs. The son was so hungry, he wished he could eat the pigs’ food. He knew he needed to return to his father.
But the son wasn’t sure his father would welcome him back. He decided he would ask his father if he could be one of his servants.
As the son was walking home, his father saw him coming from far away. The father was so happy, he ran to his son!
The father put his arms around his son and kissed him. He told his servants to bring the best clothes for his son and prepare a feast. He wanted everyone to celebrate and be happy because his son had come home.
All this time, the older son had been working in the fields. As he came back to the house, he heard music and dancing. He asked a servant what was going on. The servant told him that his younger brother had come home, so they were having a feast to celebrate.
The older brother was angry. His father invited him to the feast, but he would not go. He told his father that he had served him for many years, but no one had ever given him a feast. The father told him, “All that I have is thine,” but it was good to be happy when someone repents and returns home!