The Lost Sheep

Matthew 12:11-12 “He said to them, ‘Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’"

This event in Jesus’ ministry is quite powerful to me for a number of reasons: Firstly, Jesus was being set up by those who were teachers of the law so that they might find a reason to accuse Him for doing good work on the Sabbath day of rest. Secondly, Jesus provides a deeper interpretation of the law that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. Third, Jesus’ story about lifting a sheep out of the pit resonates with the people because they understand that the sheep are a part of their livelihood so they would rescue their sheep on the Sabbath. Fourthly, He then challenges them by asking how much more a man’s life is worth than a sheep? Why would Jesus not go about His ministry on the Sabbath because it is good to teach, to heal, and to share the Gospel of how to attain eternal life through Him.

As the sheep in the story had fallen in the pit, so have we fallen in sin. Christ did not stop His ministry because it was the Sabbath day. He continues to reach out to us so that He may lift us out of the pit of despair. When He raises us out of the pit of destruction and brings us into His marvelous light, we can then exclaim as Peter has in 1 Peter 2:25 “For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”