This week, I’ve pondered on the parable of the lost sheep (my HWN):
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.” (Luke 15:4-6)
President Uchtdorf commented on this that:
Over the centuries, this parable has traditionally been interpreted as a call to action for us to bring back the lost sheep and to reach out to those who are lost. While this is certainly appropriate and good, I wonder if there is more to it.
Is it possible that Jesus’s purpose, first and foremost, was to teach about the work of the Good Shepherd? Is it possible that He was testifying of God’s love for His wayward children? Is it possible that the Savior’s message was that God is fully aware of those who are lost—and that He will find them, that He will reach out to them, and that He will rescue them?
I like this reframe about the focus of this parable, and how it helps me better understand God’s love for us :) Especially when God doesn’t have the physical limitation that he has to leave any one of his children alone in order to save another.
p.s. I loved being surprised by Josh, Amanda, Maddison, and Aubrey this weekend! :) What wonderful company! I enjoyed Zupas and walking around BYU campus with them yesterday, and the Provo City Center temple this morning.
Last night I also went to a goodbye party for my good friend Sei — transferring to BYU Hawaii.
And, I went to a fun movie night with ward members :)
The Prophet Joseph Smith significantly altered one verse in the Joseph Smith Translation. It reads: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine and go into the wilderness after that which is lost, until he find it?”
This suggests that Christ leaves the sheep in a secure place and goes himself to rescue the lost soul in the wilderness.