When Jesus tells the story of the lost sheep, He is not painting a soft, sentimental picture. He is revealing a love that is costly, uncomfortable and very personal. Sheep are not clean animals. They wander, they fall, they get stuck in mud, thorns and their own waste. Sheep are filthy, exhausted and easily get lost, and unable to rescue themselves. The dirtiest part of a sheep is its hindquarters. That is where the smell is the strongest, where the mess is undeniable. And when the shepherd finds the lost sheep, he does not drag it – he does not clean it first, he does not make it walk back to prove it has learned the lesson, to stay with the others. He lifts it, and places the sheep on his shoulders. Which means the dirtiest part of the sheep is pressed against the shepherd’s neck, his face, his clothes. The smell, the filth, the weight, all of it rests on his shoulders. Jesus chose that detail on purpose. That is not accidental imagery. Jesus is showing us exactly what He would do on the cross. He did not save us from a distance. He did not wait for us to get clean, he did not rescue the polished version of us. Rather He took the mess unto Himself. Jesus says the shepherd carries the sheep on his back rejoicing. Not frustrated or embarrassed. But rejoicing. This is the heart of the Father. Remember that God is not disgusted by your mess. He already carried it. God is not shocked by your weakness. He already bore it. God is not waiting for you the clean yourself up – He cleaned you Himself. And when Jesus arrives home, he does not isolate the sheep. He doesn’t scold her or punish her. He throws a celebration. He invites others to rejoice. You are not loved because you improved. You are not accepted because you behaved. You are not held because you stayed clean. Yu are loved because He carried you. You are accepted because He finished the work. You are held because He chose you. If this does not make you fall in love with God, nothing will. A God who puts your dirtiest parts on His shoulders. A savior who absorbs your shame instead of avoiding it. A Father who rejoices over you while you are still messy. This is not fragile love, but a love that smells like sacrifice and looks like a cross. You are never a burden to God. You are a joy set before Him. And He would carry you again without hesitation.
