Matthew 18:12

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?

I love a good love story.  For me the best love stories always have a strong ending. There is always a breakup that happens midway into the story, when the lovers separate and all looks lost but towards the end, it’s usually the male love interest that gives up something that he must learn to let go, whether a job, or his pride. There is usually some decision he has to make that requires great sacrifice or that makes him seem foolish and ridiculous but instead he gives it all up and that’s when it comes to my favorite part of the story, the scene where the guy goes back to win the girl’s heart once again. You know the Bible is a love story, the greatest love story ever told. I was recently reminded of this when I was meditating on the parable of Jesus describing himself as a Shepherd. There’s a great image of Jesus going after us: His bride, His girl.  In this parable, he compares His love for us as a shepherd who would leave the flock of 99 behind for the sake of one sheep that strayed. The one sheep that strays is us and the ninety nine is the sacrifice that God makes for us. What sacrifice? Well if you think about it, any shepherd that leaves behind his flock unsupervised knows he’d be putting his sheep at risk of either being stolen by thieves, vulnerable to being eaten by wolves, or leaving them to wander off and scatter off on their own. In other words, he’d be putting his very livelihood on the line, knowing if he found the one and then returned, the ninety nine would more than likely be gone. He’d be sacrificing his earnings, what puts bread on the table for him, his very life. Of course, no shepherd would do that, but this is exactly God’s point. Jesus loved us so much that He was like a shepherd leaving his ninety nine all for us. We strayed, we sinned, went our own way but He left the comforts of heaven, gave up His title of God for the role of humbled servant and gave it all up, even His very life. Foolishness? “Reckless Love”, as one song says? Yes, that’s how much God loves us, “That while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” He left behind the ninety-nine so that He could say to us, “You are mine!” Now that’s a love story worth telling over and over again. God and His Bride, a love story for the ages.