One sheep? Who would have thought one sheep could be of so much value in the eyes of our Lord Jesus Christ? And yet it is. A farmer, you would say, who had thousands grazing on the mountainside, might not miss one sheep. He might not take it much to heart if one should fall and perish. Who would mourn the loss of one sheep among thousands?
Such may be the reasoning of man, but it is not the thought of Jesus. Each sheep—each person—is precious to Him—yes, every sheep, as precious as if He had no other. Even though it falls into a pit, still it is precious. He will not abandon it. Surely He will lay hold of it, and lift it out.
It was a deep pit into which the sheep fell, and the mire which covered and defiled it was filthy, but the Shepherd loved it even then. His love was strong as death; that love sought its object in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deep.
The love of the Lord Jesus braved everything to rescue its object from the jaws of the destroyers—from the wolf that waited to devour. His love gave all it could give to break Satan's power, to save, and wash, and bring to light and liberty the fallen sheep.
How perfectly and fully that One did His task! All that was necessary for the poor sheep's blessing, all that was needful for its everlasting security has been accomplished for it.
And who has done this? Jesus who came from heaven to earth to ransom us. For we were as sheep: going astray, fallen into the pit of mire. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, was the only one who could seek and save such as we were. And He did.
He took me out of the pit and from the miry clay,
He set my feet on the rock, establishing my way;
He put a song in my mouth, my God to glorify,
And He'll take me some day to my home on high.