Lost Sheep Don’t Find Themselves: Good Shepherds Wanted

Last updated on: December 1, 2015 at 7:54 am by Blair Van Dyke

Lost Sheep Don’t Find Themselves: Good Shepherds Wanted 2015-12-01T07:54:10-06:00 Blair Van Dyke

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Jesus taught the parable of the lost sheep in response to Pharisees that found his association with sinners distasteful. Jesus actually ate and socialized with sinners and this was unacceptable in their world. Associate with sinners and you become tainted by the association. Well, Jesus found this attitude to be nothing shy of repugnant and the parable of the lost sheep was a strong response to their self-righteousness.

Jesus taught much about sheep. Of course, he was teaching about his own character and about discipleship. It has been helpful to me to know something about the behavior of sheep. Especially when they get lost.

Sheep like to range. They can handle the cold better than goats. And it gets cold in Palestine/Israel. It will snow once or twice a year in Jerusalem. Sometimes it will snow two or three feet in one storm. It quickly melts but the principle point is that it gets cold in the mountains of Judea. But that doesn’t bother the sheep much. So they won’t freeze to death and the fact that they like to range makes it all the more necessary for a shepherd to be vigilant. Occasionally, a lamb will become separated from the flock and get lost. There is never a greater need for a shepherd than at this moment.

When a lamb gets lost it simply gives up. It lies down where it is at and makes no effort to rediscover the flock. Simply, it becomes an easy meal for a predator in the wilderness. In other words, once the lamb is lost, it will not find itself. Someone or something will find the lamb. The only question is, will that be the shepherd or will that be a hungry wild animal? Time is of the essence, the good shepherd must leave the ninety and nine and go find it. For a good shepherd, this is the only solution to this problem.

Now, a good shepherd will NEVER leave the flock unattended so relax about the ninety and nine. They are protected by underling shepherds—probably the shepherds own sons. This is such a given that Jesus need not mention it to the people he is teaching so there is no stress about the “obedient” sheep not getting the attention and protection they “deserve.” Indeed, a careful reading of the parable will quickly show that there are no righteous and deserving sheep, but that is another discussion. So, back to the lost sheep and the good shepherd.

The good shepherd searches until the lost sheep is found. He never gives up. He is bound by his love for sheep and his duty as a shepherd to find the lamb. Once found, the shepherd rejoices. This is no time to berate the lamb for getting lost. No beat downs. Only rejoicing! That which was lost is now found. This is all good news—no bad news here.

Rejoicing aside, the shepherd knows that the lamb has really given up. It has no energy or will. So the good shepherd physically picks up the lamb, places it on his shoulders, and carries it back to the safety and protection of the flock and the underling shepherds. Only then will the lamb be revitalized. And one more very important point, when the shepherd arrives back at the flock with the lost sheep, he expects all to rejoice with him. Again, no beat downs, no berating. Only celebration. That which was lost has now been found—no bad news here.

The Pharisees, who would not lift a finger to assist the wayward amongst them stood strongly condemned before Jesus. Two thousand years later, we get to consider this story. And nothing has changed. First, those lost must be found because they will not get “unlost” themselves. Second, the found sheep must be treated with the greatest of care. Getting lost is exhausting and good shepherds know that carrying, lifting, assisting is absolutely necessary. Third, all rejoice–that which was lost has now been found!

Ultimately, good shepherds are needed and uncharitable Pharisees are not. In other words, shepherd on!

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