The Lost Sheep
Jesus said “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he 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.” Luke 15:4-5 (NIV)
When my dad had sheep, they needed a great deal of care. It was not unusual for a sheep to get its head stuck in the fence, reaching for that patch of grass just outside the pasture. Other times, they might wander off and get frozen to the ground in winter. Sheep aren’t exactly wise, but they are valuable to the one who owns them.
That’s the picture Jesus paints in this parable. A shepherd notices that one sheep is missing, and he doesn’t write it off. He doesn’t say, “Well, at least I still have ninety-nine.” No, he leaves the others in a safe place and searches for the one that’s lost. And when he finds it, he doesn’t scold it or drive it back with frustration. He lifts it onto his shoulders, rejoicing.
That’s how Jesus sees you. That’s how He sees me. We wander. We get stuck. We chase things outside the boundaries He’s given us, thinking they’ll satisfy us. Sometimes we’re frozen in place by fear, sin, or pain. But Jesus, our Great Shepherd, doesn’t give up. He comes after us with relentless love and carries us home with joy.
This parable reminds us that no one is too far gone, too broken, or too lost for Jesus to rescue. His care is personal. His love is persistent. And His grace is greater than our wandering.
Jesus, thank You for being the Shepherd who never gives up on us. May we be quick to repent when we often go our own way, chasing things that leave us stuck and empty. But You come after us, not with condemnation, but with compassion. Thank You for lifting us up and carrying us when we can't make it on our own. Help us to hear and trust Your voice, to stay close to You, and to rest in the safety of Your care. Amen.