THE LOST SHEEP

Christ’s approach towards the tax-collectors and sinner’s were far beyond the understanding of the Pharisees and the teachers of Law, who were both annoyed and impatient when Lord Jesus dined and stayed in their houses. Their narrow mind would argue and provoke questions against the Lord and His teachings.  

One day understanding their increasing intolerance, Lord Jesus began like this:

Lord Jesus said “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them what does he do? He leaves other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and goes looking for the one that got lost until he finds it. When he finds it he is so happy that he puts it on his shoulders and carries it back home. And he calls his friends and neighbours and says to them I am so happy, I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate! In the same way, I tell you there will be more joy in heaven over the one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. [Luke 15:4-7]

Lord Jesus did not speak anything against or argued with anyone; instead He explained His way of life to them.

It was the nature of the Pharisees to blame certain people, not because of any wrongdoing but merely because they belonged to a certain tribe or towns, or since they did particular work etc...

The Samaritans were considered outcasts because of their town, while tax-collectors were under the category of sinners because of the nature of their work.

Lord Jesus on the other hand, neither supported nor encouraged their certain customs. He knew His  mission was to attract all kinds of people to the divine truth, to save and set free the oppressed.

He went to their homes to be with them as an example to impart God’s impartial Love.

That again does not mean that our Lord loved only the outcasts. He had a large group of rich Jewish people too who followed Him.

Through the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus symbolises himself as the good shepherd and trying to identify people with love and depth of relationships.

The depth of a relationship can be well understood by the example of our families. Let’s assume a mother with five children; and one of them is disabled. It is understood that she spends more amount of time with her sick child, caress and nursing him, more than the other four. She will not neglect the sick child, saying she has four good and healthy ones; instead she will sacrifice her food and sleep to be by his/ her side; praying fervently and carry out charity to please God for extra favour.

Just as a patient is in need of a doctor; so also is he who is sick or lost his way naively or mistaken his way to the shepherd. He might have followed some stranger, and been stuck up in thorns and bushes impossible to comeback. The moment a good Shepherd comes to know that one of his sheep is lost, instantly he goes in search of him, as he knows that there are chances that his lost one would be attacked by wild animals or a cruel foe that could endanger it; and he could no longer see or love the lost one.

Lord Jesus proclaims that “I am the Good Shepherd who is willing to die for the sheep”(John 10:11) .  He says that a good shepherd helps the wandered one and is even ready to give his own life to save him.  Lord Jesus concludes this parable by giving us the most thoughtful saying, “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people, who do not need to repent.”(Luke:15- 7)

There is vast difference between the number ninety-nine and one. Why does Lord Jesus specifically give us such variable numbers?

Through this He may be emphasising that the sincere depth of love is much more valuable than our mere accounts.  A sacrificial love does not keep the account of gain or loss.  Our gracious Lord wants every soul to return to Him, because He has paid the most valuable price for him/her and already brought them back to His kingdom. 

Lord Jesus insists that every sinner must repent and turn to God and share in his inheritance. An example to us He made himself so humble, refusing all His glory, loved every sinner and diseased ones and approached them by even visiting their homes, accepting what they served. 

He explained the truth to them, in order to draw them to His Fathers’ kingdom. 

In the Old Testament Sovereign God stands in place of the shepherd as He says “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep… I will look for those that are lost and bring back those who wander off…bandage those that are hurt and heal those that are sick”.[Ezekiel 34:15-16].

The Son of God, Lord Jesus went in search of sinners amongst the tax-collectors and Samaritans, afflicted and the diseased ones to their homes. The Loving   Father organised His mighty plan of Salvation and the Son continued as per His will; handed over to St. Peter and other disciples and  still continue all over the world. So we who are the followers of Christ are also called and bound to continue the mission without breaking its chain.

St. Paul through his letters grants us a zealous apostolic spirit filled heart to search and bring back the oppressed and save what is lost.  St. Peter, the Good Shepherd appealed to us to be the shepherd of the flock that God gave us and to take care of it willingly as God wants us to, and not unwillingly. “Do your work not for mere pay but from a real desire to serve.”(1 Peter 5:2-3)

Let us pause a while claiming to be the devotees of the Good Shepherd.

How many sheep are there in your surroundings waiting for your help?

How many of them could you bring back to health?

Are you still a lost sheep or shepherd?

As per God said “My people turned away from Me, the spring of fresh water and they have dug cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all.” (Jeremiah 2:13)

Or are you deaf and blind towards the voice and guidance of the true shepherds appointed by God? 

Have you turned against the mission of catching man due to false trap of devil’s kingdom?

Whatever and however you may be still the hope awaits you. Today may be an acceptable day/time to wake up and with a repentant heart run to your group of sheep awaiting, looking for you and missing you.

Dear faithful devotees as how Lord asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?; every moment of your life bestowing His divine love and unfailing mercy Lord asks you, “Dear xyz,  daughter/son of----“Do you love me?, Do you love me,? Do you love me? Take care of my sheep”

Practice every day few minutes to pray for your co-brothers, pray for the sins of the world and take courage to share the loving kindness of your Lord to someone who needs it ……

With loved filled Blessings,

Your Sister in Christ