The Lost Sheep

Dr. Michael Browder, Pastor

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Today, in Luke 15, we read about Jesus teaching us through the parable of the Lost Sheep. This parable teaches us about the surprising and unexpected nature of God.

Let’s think about this for a moment. In the first place, this parable goes against one of our most sacred principles: the principle of democracy. We love democracy. We just had a big experience of democracy at work last Tuesday. I was working at the polls last Tuesday, and let me tell you – when 6:00 AM came, we had an onslaught of democracy. By the end of the day, the number of voters had trickled down very slowly, but at 6:00 AM, we had wall-to-wall people lined up and ready to vote.

As I said, we love democracy – the rule of the majority. Our nation was founded on this principle. Even in the church, we believe that everything should be duly elected and duly voted. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, never could understand this about Americans. In England, the Methodist Church was his creation, and he treated it like his child, his possession.

After the American Revolution, the Methodist Church in America had to separate itself from the Methodist Church in England. John Wesley sent over orders on how the new church was to be set up. Francis Asbury, the leader of the American Methodists, wrote back and said: “We are going to have to vote on this first. Americans only accept things that they vote on and approve for themselves.” Wesley could not believe this answer – that his spiritual children would talk to him this way. But what could he do? The Americans had fought and died to win their independence, their right to vote.

So we love democracy. Majority rule. That is our creed. But Jesus, in this parable, takes just the opposite approach. Democracy, majority rule would dictate that the interests of the 99 come way ahead of the interests of the one. But, in the parable, the interests of the 99 are ignored, and the one lost sheep becomes the only one that matters.

We might also say that this parable defies good business. We love good business. We love to talk about profits and percentages. In recent weeks, with the financial problems of the world, we have been talking about protecting our assets. The first rule is: protect your capital. No responsible businessperson would risk 99% of his or her capital for a 1% return, or even to protect a 1% loss. Even “Joe the Plumber” knows that much! One percent is the cost of doing business, for goodness sake! No one would risk 99% of his or her assets for the sake of 1%.

But that’s exactly what the shepherd does in the parable. He risks the ninety-nine sheep that he has safe and sound in order to go after the one sheep that is lost. And the Bible says that he even rejoices more for the one lost sheep that was found than for the 99 sheep that were never lost.

And let me tell you this: I am so glad that the parable turned out that way. I am so glad that the shepherd said, “The heck with democracy and ‘good business’!” I am so glad he put everything at risk and went to find that lost sheep.

Because, you see, I am that lost sheep. I am the one who was lost. And God is the shepherd. He did not rest until he found me. He put me on his shoulders, and he saved me. And he brought me back into the fold. And he rejoiced more than for even the sheep that remained faithful. His words reverberate from the Bible: “ Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep!”

If you know Jesus Christ, you know that you, too, were once that lost sheep. You were the one Jesus put on his shoulders and carried to safety.

This is about God’s love and God’s amazing Grace. That’s how God is! His love is not what you expected. It is surprising and it is wonderful.

That’s the point of view of God, the Shepherd. Now I want to say a little bit more about the sheep – from the sheep’s point of view.

Maybe what we need is a “sheep’s theology.” I heard a great thing on the radio this week about “dog theology” and “cat theology.” What are you, a dog lover or a cat lover? How many are dog lovers? How many are cat lovers?

As to theology, a dog looks at us and says this: “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me.  You must be God!” On the other hand, a cat looks at us and says: “ You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me.  I must be God! ”  

The point is clear. You and I ought to have dog theology. When we see all that the Lord does for us, we ought to say, “Surely you are God!” On the other hand, too often we look at all the blessings and freedoms and opportunities the Lord gives us, and we say, “Surely I must be God!” Or at least, we act like we are God. “My way comes first, not God’s way. What’s in it for me?” We have gone from the-ology to me-ology. And there is far too much me-ology in our world.

Today, I want to suggest a third branch of theology. I am going to call it “sheep theology.” This theology says, “I am one lost sheep, and I need the shepherd to rescue me.”

The Bible says that all of us, like sheep have gone astray. My friend, Ken Horne, who was the founder of the Society of St. Andrew, used to own sheep, and he always reminds me that sheep are some of the dumbest animals in the world. Not only are they so dumb that they easily get lost, they are even too dumb to know that they are lost!

Doesn’t that describe us?! We are so lost. And we are so dumb about the fact that we are lost.

Thank God that we have a shepherd who is out there looking for us. And that shepherd is Jesus Christ our Savior. Do you remember what that old hymn said this morning? I was lost ‘til Jesus found me, found the sheep who went astray. [He] put his loving arms around me, and led me back into his way. Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story, of the Christ who died for me.

Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.” Christ is the one who puts the lost lamb on his shoulders, and brings it home to safety.

You and I are that lost lamb. Probably no more famous words have ever been written than the 23 rd Psalm, reminding us who are shepherd is and what He means to us. I want to close with those words this morning.

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake. Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou annointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Today’s joke:

Two shepherds, an optimist and a pessimist, were about to start work.
The first one asked, “How’s it going?”
The second shepherd answered, “Terrible! I can’t pay my bills. My health is a wreck. My kids hate me. And my wife screams at me.”
Then the first one says: “Well, don’t lose any sheep over it.”