The Word uses word pictures . . .

Jesus used word pictures to explain spiritual realities to His listeners. Bible scholars say we should not get too carried away with their use because images are not exactly the same as what they illustrate. For instance, I could say, “That mountain stream sparkled like diamonds” but that does not mean the stream is hard, made of carbon, and can be used to cut glass.

Obviously, some of what Jesus said is easier to understand than others. Most of us get the idea that people are like sheep because we are easily scattered and must be led, but we don’t grow wool, run around on four legs, and smell like . . . well, sheep.

In the following accounts, Jesus talks about a shepherd who leaves his flock to find one lost sheep. His listeners lived where this would be a familiar problem, but what I find interesting are the two instances where Jesus used this word picture — to respond to some grumbling and to answer a question.

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.’” (Luke 15:1–7)

The religious leaders of that day thought that Jesus was breaking their rules by spending time with “tax collectors and sinners” but Jesus likened them to lost sheep who needed to be found. This word picture was a direct hit against a religious value system. Those leaders looked down their noses at those who were not ‘pious’ as they were. Today’s equivalent isn’t too hard to imagine. Receiving criminals, addicts, prostitutes, and homeless people would be frowned upon in many religious circles.

The second story answers a question. The disciples asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus set a child in front of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

But He didn’t stop there. Instead, Jesus took another hit at those who reject children or anyone else who humbly trusts Him. Anyone who causes a child or a childlike believer to sin is in trouble with God. Then He added:

“What do you think? 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.” (Matthew 18:1–14)

This word picture describes God’s value for those He calls “the greatest” in His kingdom. He will go to any extreme to care for and protect them, even if some religious person causes them to go astray. In fact, He says there is more joy in heaven for the restoration of that straying sheep than there is for those who never have a problem with temptation (this is irony for there is no such person). Again, Jesus challenges the value system of His disciples and of the crowds, and of today’s church people who are interested only in “the faithful” and not too fanatic about those who have wandered off, even if they somehow caused the wandering.

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, at this, I could name names, but dare not because I myself might have unknowingly turned off someone and been the cause of their sin. Sometimes I’ve also let sheep wander off and not went after them. While I know that You are the Shepherd and this is primarily Your task, I also admit that my attitudes often fail to be as these word pictures describe. Rather than finger-point, I need from You a deeper sense of worth for those outside my comfort zone, and a deeper desire for the restoration of those who have gone astray.