Scripture tells us that tax collectors and sinners came to listen to Jesus and He tells them three parables: the lamb, the lost coin, the prodigal and his brother. All three have the common thread of joy in finding. So when I find my lost watch holy joy will lift off.
Jesus is speaking in the midst of tax collectors who do not loose. Precise lives keep track of money, accurate numerical calculations, and coins. Linear thinkers are tax collectors. And Jesus knows that we have habits of seeing erroneous in others before we look inward. We slow recognizing ourselves. So Savior words soften us.
Mindful tax collectors might see how it is to rejoice there with God. For joy may quickly surprise while sadness most times is expected. Savior points us to expect big joy with Him. Do glum tax collectors get it that heaven can rejoice with them?
In the background of curious minds is quiet nagging of something that's not quite right. How do things get lost? The lamb wandered off as it ate. The coin became unsewn from the headpiece and dropped, and the prodigal chose to make a misadventure for himself away from home. My watch was placed somewhere not in its normal place. Linears think, 'Why are we lost?'
Like God, we go after what's lost because it matters. Savior is direct. Sinners matter to God. That's revelation. Direct from Jesus. An, 'Ah ha!' moment. God pulls us onto Jesus' shoulders. He's living among us tending.
He is our food for thought like manna from Heaven.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 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 15:1-7