The Ninety-Nine

“Jesus told them this parable: “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 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.” (Luke 15:4-7)

In contemplating this parable of Jesus, I tried to imagine myself in the sandals of the shepherd…out in the open country…alone…watching 100 sheep…responsible for the safety and security of all 100 of them. I know there are wolves and other aggressors hungry to devour them as a meal. I know that sheep are not very smart, and I know they are defenseless. It’s why they need a shepherd to protect and guide them. I know each of my sheep pretty well…their unique markings and mannerisms. A few of these 100 are old and frail, and some are young lambs, barely able to stand on their own. I have a great affection for my sheep. I even have a name for each of them. After all, I am with them day and night.

One sheep gets away…a lamb…separated from the flock…lost…scared…alone. I know this one…she’s young and inexperienced at life in the countryside…surely an easy target for a predator. What do I do? Do I stay with the ninety-nine who didn’t meander away and keep them together and safe? Or do I go search for the one who strayed, leaving the ninety-nine unprotected? She’s only one of a hundred…I would still have ninety-nine sheep.

We all know how Jesus ends this story…the shepherd of course goes after the one lost sheep and finds it. I particularly like the way the shepherd responds to finding the one…he “joyfully” puts it on his shoulders and carries it home, then has a big party to celebrate the homecoming of this one little sheep! Jesus is always giving us glimpses of heaven, and this is a powerful picture story of the great love God has for His children, the human race.

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. He’s the lover of the lost. What kind of love steps down from His Divine realm to become part of the human race He created? To save us from being lost? God’s love bankrupted heaven for the sake of the world! His love is overwhelming, everlasting, and unconstrained. There is no love greater than the love of God the Father! God IS love. God is the source of love. And our God desires intimacy with US. His love relentlessly pursues us! His love saves us! I believe that’s the powerful meaning behind the story of the lost sheep.

The clincher in this parable, however, is the final words of Jesus. The “them” he’s talking to are tax collectors, Pharisees and teachers, who were criticizing Jesus for welcoming and eating with “sinners”, who were also present. I imagine this group sees themselves as self-righteous, pious and law-abiding, garnering God’s favor by their good intentions, unaware of their own sinful nature. Which is why Jesus sends home the final powerful point. Like the shepherd finds the lost sheep and celebrates its homecoming, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” I wonder if Jesus meant, “self-righteous persons who think they do not need to repent?” Hmmm…some food for thought.