Luke 12-17; John 11: “Rejoice with Me; for I Have Found My Sheep Which Was Lost” (May 1-7)

Gentle Shepherd, by Youngsung Kim

Jesus loves every one of God’s children and wants us to find joy. That message is expressed in at least three ways in this week’s reading: through parables, through miracles, and through His increasingly specific prophecies of His Atonement.

Parables: Riches and foolishness

A number of the parables we are studying this week are directed toward people who are either rich or who aspire to be:

1. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21): Don’t be so obsessed with your earthly possessions that you fail to prepare for the next life.
2. The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Luke 14:7-14): Don’t seek to be favored above other people. Likewise, don’t prioritize the wealthy and the famous over the poor and unrecognized. (See also Jacob 2:13, Alma 5:53-55.)
3. The Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24): When you are successful, you may be tempted to reject invitations from God.
4. The Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1-12): Be as conscientious and proactive in spiritual things as you are in your worldly stewardships.
5. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31): Be kind to those who are in need.
6. The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant (Luke 17:7-10): Don’t expect special privileges or recognition for simply doing that which you are expected to do. (See also Mosiah 2:21.)

The overarching message of these parables is this: God loves all of His children equally. There are things in this world, notably wealth, which make some people seem more important than others. Don’t be deceived by that. And if you are blessed with material wealth, remember this teaching of the Savior: “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48).

Here are some blog posts relating to these parables:

• “All These Things Will I Give Thee”
• Impart

Parables: Lost sheep, coins, and sons

Jesus shared three parables about people searching desperately for something valuable which they had lost:

1. In the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7), He explains that a shepherd who loses one sheep will leave the others to find it, and when he finds it, he rejoices with his friends and neighbors.
2. In the Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10), He describes a woman working into the night, searching her house carefully to find a single missing coin. Again, she rejoices with her friends and neighbors.
3. The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) tells the story of an overjoyed father whose wayward son had come home again. It also relates his patient correction to another son who was jealous of the attention given to his brother.

People have infinite value. Jesus made clear that each of these lost things represent us: “Likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:7, 10; see also Alma 29:9-10, Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-13).

Here are a few blog posts about these parables:

• Lost
• Jacob, Ammon, and the Prodigal Son

Miracles: Lepers and Lazarus

Ten lepers were healed, but only one returned to give thanks. Luke makes it a point to tell us that this one was a Samaritan. Jesus pointed out that only he had “returned to give glory to God,” and said to him, “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:11-19). We can emulate the kindness of the Savior who noticed and praised the goodness of this man.

When Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, both of his sisters, Martha and Mary, made the same mournful statement when they saw Him: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21, 32). What was Jesus’ response to this sorrow? The shortest verse in all the scriptures expresses poignantly the Savior’s compassion for each of us. John says simply, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Shortly after, He healed Lazarus, but not before taking time to “mourn with those that mourn.” (See Mosiah 18:9.) Here is a blog post about the Savior’s empathy:

• Filled with Joy, Filled with Sorrow – Mosiah 25:8-11

“I am the resurrection.”

Throughout this week’s reading, we find statements indicating the Savior’s central role as our Redeemer. “I have a baptism to be baptized with,” He said; “and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:50). “The third day I shall be perfected,” He told the Pharisees (Luke 13:32). And to Martha, who misunderstood His promise that her brother would live again, He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26).

The final words about the Savior’s mission in this week’s reading come from the high priest, Caiaphas: “it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (John 11:50).

Here are a couple of blog posts about the Savior’s mission which reference these passages:

• Redeemed, Reunited, Restored, Resurrected – Alma 11:40-45
• Immersion

---