The parable of the lost sheep has always been one of my favorite stories; found in Matthew 18 and Luke 15. A shepherd leaves 99 sheep to go find the one that is lost. It is such a beautiful picture of how much God values each of us individually. But recently, I heard something that flipped this story upside down for me, and it has been on my mind ever since. A little boy asked his dad, “What about the other 99?”
That is such a great question, and one I had NEVER considered. What happens to them while the shepherd is off searching for the one?
It made me look at the story in a whole new way. What if the 99 represent Heaven, safe, perfect, and secure in the Father’s care? And what if the one lost sheep is not just one person, but all of us here on Earth? Then Jesus, the Good Shepherd, becomes the one who left the safety of the fold (Heaven) to come and find us, the “99”, the ones who were lost.
Think about it! Jesus left everything; the glory of Heaven, the constant worship of angels, and the presence of the Father. He stepped into our broken, messy world, not just risking His safety but willingly laying down His life to save ours. That is a whole other level of love and sacrifice that we do not, frankly cannot, understand.
It reminds me of what Paul wrote in Philippians 2:6-8 "Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." ESV
When I think about the little boy’s question, “What about the 99?”, it makes sense that they are safe. The shepherd did not leave them unprotected; they were secure in the fold. But the one who was lost? The shepherd’s heart could not rest until he brought that sheep home. That is how Jesus feels about you!
Luke 19:10 tells us, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He did not leave Heaven recklessly; He came with purpose! And His love was not just for one lost sheep! His love is for all of us.
When I look at the story this way, it is a bit overwhelming. Jesus became the “lost” one in a sense, leaving everything behind, so we, the truly lost, could be found. That is the kind of love that changes everything my friend!
So, the next time you hear the parable of the lost sheep, try flipping it around. Picture Jesus leaving the safety of Heaven for you, for me, for all of us. It is a beautiful reminder of how far He was willing to go to bring us home!
Happy New Year! Make this the year you become closer to Jesus.
by Jeanette Stark – Wednesday, January 1, 2025
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