You’ve probably heard this before, but being called a sheep isn’t necessarily a compliment. It’s not because we are so cute and cuddly that we are called sheep. It’s not because we are so lovable.

Sheep are dumb. Sheep are helpless. Sheep need constant attention and care to avoid wandering off, falling into rivers and drowning, getting attacked by predators . . . the list goes on and on.

The point of the Bible calling us sheep isn’t that we’re so dumb, but rather that we have a loving Shepherd. One of the metaphors Jesus used most was calling Himself the Good Shepherd who loves His sheep. That’s us.

One of my favorite parables tells of how the Shepherd leaves the 99 and goes after the one who is lost. In my mind, I’m thinking that 99% is a really good retention rate. I’m willing to let that one go and write off the loss. But not Jesus.

Not only did He go after the one, but He laid down His life for the one. I do think that if there had been just one lost person in all of history, Jesus would have still gone to the cross for that one. He would have endured it all for the one.

When you feel helpless and dumb like one of those sheep, remember that Jesus left the 99 to find you. He left the 99 to find me. He didn’t stop until we were a part of the flock and with the Shepherd.

I also love how the mark of a true Shepherd is how the sheep know His voice and follow Him. That’s what happens when you’re the one who was lost and is now found. It’s what happens when you spend time with the Shepherd learning to recognize the cadences and patterns of His voice in reading the words that He left for us.

Jesus left the 99 for you and for me.