Sheep are dumb.  They easily go astray.  When they do, they are in trouble.  They have little to protect them -- no claws, no sharp teeth, no great speed.  Stray sheep fall into pits, get caught in thorns, and suffer in the cold.  They do not ‘have the good sense to come in out of the rain.’  They are prey for wolves.  A sheep will paralyze in fear.

Sheep are hopeless creatures without a shepherd.  When a sheep loses sight of the shepherd and no longer hears his voice, it goes astray.

It may follow a sub-herd that is going off in the wrong direction or

it may just go off on its own.   

Mankind is worse than sheep.  The prophet Isaiah said, “We have turned every one to his own way.”  Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way.”  We crave independence.  We do not want anyone telling us what to do or trying to lead us.  Instead, we want to tell others what to do, even if we don’t know the right way.  We stray and lead others astray with us.

And the consequences for humans are even worse than for sheep.  Sheep lose physical life.  If they suffer for a time and die, that is the end of it.  Humans have souls.  When we die, we go to an eternal existence – heaven or hell.  When we stray; we suffer physically, mentally and spiritually.

If Jesus Christ had not come to be our Good Shepherd and substitute Lamb of God, we would have been lost forever and suffered the full penalty for our straying (sinning).  On the cross, God “has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  Jesus Christ bore the guilt and punishment for our waywardness.  He rescues all who call upon Him.

He tenderly lifts us up into His arms and carries us to safety.

The hymn, Lamb of God, by Twila Paris says, “I was so lost, I should have died, but you have brought me to your side to be led by Your staff and rod and to be called a lamb of God.  O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God, O wash me in His precious blood, my Jesus Christ the Lamb of God.”  Jesus saves strays.  Amen!

Pastor Raymond Van Buskirk, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Baytown, TX www.rlcbaytwon.org