The Parable of the lost sheep it was told by Jesus when the Pharisees criticized him for socializing with sinners. Through this story of compassion, Jesus revealed his mission to rescue sinners.
It begins with a stray sheep. A sheep, apart from its shepherd, is defenseless and in grave danger. Jesus sees anyone other than himself as lost. How is he lost? His sins distance him from the holy God, leaving him groping in the dark.
Summary of the story
Jesus was speaking to a group of tax collectors, sinners, Pharisees, and teachers of the law. He asked them to imagine that they had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed from the flock. A shepherd would leave his ninety-nine sheep and search for the lost one until he found it.
Then, with joy in his heart, he would put her on his shoulders, carry her home, and tell his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him, for he had found his lost sheep. Jesus concluded by telling them that there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.
Explanation of the parable of the lost sheep
In all cases, the lost sheep refers to sinners, God’s people who have gone astray, leaving the land safe and taking a route that exposes them to a sinful end. The shepherd in the story had a hundred sheep, and with such a large number, he still managed to discover that one was missing.
Now, if he were a man driven by greed and not by love, he would not have risked leaving the ninety-nine out in the open and taking a route down dangerous roads-perhaps up a steep hill, or down some lonely path with the threat of wild beasts – to search for that lost sheep.
However, being the good shepherd who loved and cared for all his sheep, he neglected his own comfort and safety, and with a troubled heart, he set out in search of his sheep, and did not rest until he found it. And when he found her, he took her on her shoulders and was glad to invite her friends and neighbors and proclaim her happiness.
Explanation from the point of view of skeptics
From the point of view of skeptics, it can be said that it was irresponsible on the part of the shepherd to leave the rest of the sheep to go look for the lost one. It can also be said that it was a great risk, since the others were put in a vulnerable situation by his protector while he abandoned them to go in search of the one he had lost.
However, there is a different side. The pastor was not only guided by his heart, but also by logic. Logically, it was the lost sheep standing alone in the wilderness that was more vulnerable to threat, bestial attack, or perhaps starvation, than the flock of ninety-nine.
The ninety-nine were already on safe land with green pastures, and it was unlikely that they would be attacked by a predator due to the sheer numbers there. On the contrary, the lost sheep was alone, an easy target for the predator, so the shepherd went out to rescue it from danger.
Another point that must be taken into account in this case is that the lost animal was a sheep, a cattle without a mind of its own. If it was a dog, it would have come back on its own, even a horse, but it was a sheep. This animal tends to freeze when threatened or intimidated.
Therefore, the shepherd knew that there is no way this little soul would survive on its own if he did not rescue her. His effort was fueled by the simple fact that she wasn’t just a lost sheep, she was his lost sheep, a being he cared for, nurtured and protected until now. He succeeded in his endeavor, and all that was lost was restored in the end—an achievement to be celebrated!
We invite you to read: Meaning of the Parable of the Lost Coin.
Meaning and implication
What did Christ mean by this parable? When accused of welcoming and dining with sinners, he used this story to address sinners’ need to be rescued from sin. Invariably, he hinted at his ultimate rescue mission to save the people of the world.
He hinted that instead of leaving those who are lost on their own, go after them, track them down, and help them get back into God’s safe hands. Just because someone is lost doesn’t mean they should be set apart.
We are all children of God, and He values each and every one of His children and would never hesitate to go out of the way to bring them back on the right path. He does not rebuke, curse, or humiliate those who have gone the wrong way, but he constantly cares, worries, and searches for them while they are stuck in the wilderness.
He has not only created us, but he loves us to the point of missing our presence, he remembers our existence, and when he finds us repentant for our wrongdoing, he takes us in his arms and leads us to join our brothers and sisters in the kingdom. of God.
The last line of the parable says: “I assure you that there will be more joy in heaven for one sinner who repents than for ninety-nine righteous who do not need repentance”, which means that each of us has irreplaceable value to others. eyes of God, and that there is no greater joy in heaven than when a lost child finds its rightful place in the kingdom of heaven.
You can also read: The Parable of the Sower – A Manual to Bear Fruit!
While the lost sheep means sinners, the shepherd means our Christ Jesus who is “The Good Shepherd” who rescued us from perishing by taking the burden of our sins upon himself and dying on the cross for us.
As the parable says, “And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders,” implying that not only did Jesus come to guide us sinners through his presence, but he lifted us up on his shoulders, making sure we were not left behind. Or we slipped on the way back.
The whole act of carrying the sheep on our shoulders highlights the fact that when we are saved, we are united with God and become a part of Him. He does not act aloof, or refuse to touch us, but lovingly carries us and nurtures us under his care.
The parable of the lost sheep, like the parable of the prodigal son, inspires all of us to draw closer to God, letting nothing come between us and Him. Because He is the merciful Lord who will always be glad to accept your repentance and forgive. our sins so that we get rid of the burden of our past, and we can start a new life where there is no fear, but freedom, joy and justice.