The Stray Sheep in the Mountains
Text: Matthew 18:10–14
January 18, 2015 • KSYC 103.9FM (Yreka) • Download this article (PDF)
If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish (Matt 18:10-14).
Last week, we looked at the human plight of constant temptation by the devil. Like Jesus, our biggest shield against temptation is God’s Word, the Bible. In the verses that we read today, Jesus gives us another reason for hope, even if we are relentlessly tempted to sin and go astray. He is the Good Shepherd who counts the number of his sheep and searches for those who go astray in the mountains. As one who cares for his flock, Jesus ventures out into the wilderness to find his stray “little ones.” His flock is secure in the knowledge that it is not the Father’s will that even one of them—even those who go astray—will be completely lost and perish in the way.
Why Sheep Go Astray: The shepherd has a flock of 100 sheep in his sheepfold. He cares for them, feeds them, guides them into safe pathways, and protects them from wild beasts who would devour them. But even under the shepherd’s care, one of the 100 go astray. It wanders off into the mountain wilderness and does not know his way back to the sheepfold. It is exposed to the harsh elements, without food and water, and in danger of being prey for wild beasts. How does this one sheep go astray?
The first reason why we go astray, far from Jesus the Good Shepherd is that we are “led away from the truth and into error” by deceivers. Jesus warns us today against deceivers who are false teachers and false prophets. He warns us, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Deceivers of his sheep are hungry wolves pretending to be one of the sheep. They are false prophets and teachers who promise good things to the sheep—food, shelter, protection—but they are greedy, voracious predators who will instead devour the sheep they lead away from the true sheepfold. As Jesus sent out his disciples, he warned them, “I am sending you out as sheep and lambs in the midst of wolves.” These false teachers are wolves who “will snatch them and scatter them.”
Today, many deceivers come as sheep in wolves’ clothing. They pretend to be one of the sheep, as pastors and teachers skilled in using words from Scriptures. They use highfalutin words as a pretext to great knowledge and wisdom. They perform their spectacular signs and wonders in churches, stadiums and convention centers all over the world in order to deceive everyone, even the elect if it is possible. By smooth talk and flattery, many popular televangelists lead the naive astray by promises of material wealth, good health, and “your best life now” to their followers.
A second reason why sheep like us stray away from God is that that the world will always have temptations for the sheep to go astray and sin. Sheep are by nature weak and not very smart. They merely follow other sheep and the shepherd. They will follow other sheep even all the way to their death on a cliff. This is why all mankind are described as sheep that went astray who have turned away from God and instead turned to their own sinful ways. Paul confirms man’s hopeless condition, “None is righteous… no one understands; no one seeks for God… no one does good, not even one.” All mankind have willfully turned away from God. Jesus says that if you continue being astray, you will be lost forever and perish in the mountains!
What the Shepherd Does? If his stray sheep is so helpless and hopeless on its own, what does the shepherd then do to help ? Daily, before it gets dark, the shepherd counts his sheep in the sheepfold to make sure that all are safely in. But when he finds that one is missing, he leaves his 99 sheep and scours the mountains for the one who has gone astray. All the rest are secured and protected in their sheepfold.
When the shepherd finds the stray sheep, what does he do? He brings them back to the fold and cares for them. He gives food and water to the hungry and thirsty. If they are hurt, weak or sick, he binds their wounds and nourishes them to health. If they are afraid, he assures it of protection in the sheepfold. He cares for them tenderly, nudging them with his staff carefully, not cruelly or violently hitting it to make them obey. He protects them from all wild beasts. Psalm 23 speaks about how the Lord as shepherd cares for his sheep’s physical and spiritual needs, until he leads them finally into their eternal dwelling places in heaven.
This is what Jesus the Good Shepherd does for his sheep in John 10:1-16. He protects them from robbers and wild beasts who would steal them and kill them. He knows each one by name and safely leads them one by one in and out of the gate of the sheepfold. Because of this, the sheep know his voice, listen to him, and follow his commands. They do not listen to false shepherds who are greedy hirelings looking out only after their own selfish motives, because they know the voice and the commands of their Good Shepherd.
Not only does the Good Shepherd care for his sheep: he actually laid down his life for them, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” To rescue his lost sheep, Jesus became one of them, a meek and obedient Lamb of God who gave himself as a sacrifice on the cross. His flock comes from all the nations of the world. And when Christ returns from heaven, he will gather all his sheep into one flock.
Why Stray Sheep are Found: When the shepherd finds the stray sheep, he rejoices over it more than over the 99 who never went astray. There’s rejoicing in heaven every time one stray or lost sheep is found! But we must remember that it is only by God’s grace and mercy that we are part of the elect sheep of Christ. Our being in his flock is not our own doing, but God’s own work.
Let us also remember, with grief and sorrow, those who are not part of the sheepfold of Jesus who are perishing in their ways and are bound to eternal fire. God is not pleased—in fact, he is sorrowful—when a person perishes in hell. God is grieved whenever someone perishes because he has rejected the free and universal offer of the gospel.
But God rejoices when one of his sheep is finally found and led to his sheepfold. One day, Christ will count his “little ones” in the sheepfold and find that the number is complete. Then he would declare, “All that the Father has given me has come to me” (John 6:37). On that day, heaven’s rejoicing will be complete because the sheepfold is complete.
On the cross, Christ completed his work of laying down his life for his sheep, so he declared, “It is finished.” On the last day, he would finish his work of gathering his flock from mountains and valleys and from cities and fields in all the nations of the world. Christ has not cast out anyone who belongs to his sheepfold. When that day finally comes, he would have gathered all his sheep from all the nations. The time has come for him to take them from their earthly sheepfold to their heavenly home. This is why he can confidently tell us in verse 14 of our text, “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Rather, those who are in his sheepfold know him, believe in him, and have eternal life.
Conclusion: Dear friends, To you who do not believe in Christ and do not belong to his flock, on the last day, the Good Shepherd will sit on his throne as the Judge of the Universe to judge all the nations. He will separate all the people of the world into two folds: one for the sheep, and the other one for the goats. If you were one of the sheep, rejoice! For the kingdom of heaven is yours! But if you had strayed away from the sheepfold and had become completely lost in the mountains because of your unbelief, you will be one of the goats whom Christ the Judge will send into eternal punishment of fire. But you have one hope: Jesus the Good Shepherd seeks for you to repent of your sins and turn to the paths of righteousness, where his sheep are walking on their way to their heavenly home.
And to you who belong to the sheepfold but stray from the paths of righteousness because of worldly temptations, Jesus also commands you to repent of your sins and turn back to the right paths. If you do not repent and turn back, be forewarned: it might be that you really do not know the voice of the Good Shepherd calling your name. Because if you truly hear and know your Shepherd’s voice, you will follow him and his commands. But if you repent and turn back, be assured that he will never cast you out. Make sure that you are walking the paths of righteousness, following your Good Shepherd with fear and trembling, because “he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ,” our great Shepherd of the sheep.
LET US PRAY: Almighty God, we are eternally grateful to you for sending us the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for us to save us from sin and from eternal death. Help us now to follow our Good Shepherd into paths of righteousness and holiness till he finally takes us to our eternal sheepfold.
Now we pray for the week ahead of us. We pray again for our homes, our jobs, our fields, our schools, our government. We continue to pray for good weather, for rains, for sunshine, for snow. We pray for provisions for daily bread, especially for the widows and the poor. Heal those who are ill, especially those with serious illnesses. May you also heal our broken relationships. Through Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd. Amen.
