More Rejoicing For the 1 Than the 99

Luke 15:1-7 (NIV) Parable of the Lost Sheep
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety–nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety–nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
Two points of mphasis I would like to make:
1) How strange that Jesus is accused of welcoming and eating with sinners! I mean this is what its suppose to be about. Jesus will go on a tell the story of the lost sheep showing us that this is really what living as a Christian, in the body, is suppose to be about. It seems like we build our buildings for the very reason to keep sinners out. We can make statements similar to this in judgment of our fellow Christians who associate with sinners and eat with them. How else can we share the life changing story of Jesus with them if we don't associat with them and make them the target of our efforts. But most of our efforts are on ourselves.
2) The statement in v.7 says there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the 99 righteous who are safe in the pen. This is another statement that amazes me. Jesus concern is over the one lost than over the 99 who are safe. I think we in the church today have a tendancy to worry and fuss over the 99 who are safe than over the one who need to know Jesus. We seem to rejoice more over the 99 safe than the one who repents. Our efforts need to be for the sinner, to bring them Christ, but in fact most of our efforts are for the 99. How sad!