Leaving the 99: The Reckless Love for the 1

Leaving the 99: The Reckless Love for the 1.

Exploring the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1–7)

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?" Luke 15:4 (NIV)

Why Did Jesus Share This Parable?

Jesus told the parable of the lost sheep in response to the Pharisees, who criticised Him for spending time with “sinners” (Luke 15:12). These religious leaders prided themselves on rule-keeping and righteousness, but they had forgotten their primary responsibility, which is to shepherd God’s people (see Ezekiel 34:1-6). Rather than drawing the lost back to God, they created walls. They didn’t want to mix with sinners whom they saw as ‘unclean’.

Jesus, on the other hand, didn’t come to play religion. He came to seek and save the lost, to draw all people to Himself (John 12:32), and to demonstrate God’s heart for redemption. So He gave this parable: a story of pursuit, rescue, and joy.

This parable is also found in the gospel of Matthew 18:10-14.

Who Are the 99?

The “ninety-nine” represent those who are already saved, that is, believers who are part of the fold. But does Jesus abandon them when He goes after the one? Of course not! He is omnipresent and omniscient. This parable isn’t about neglecting the saved; it’s about showing the extraordinary love of God in pursuing the lost.

But there’s still a message for the 99. Let’s unpack it.

Are You Following Jesus or Just Following the Crowd?

Sheep are social animals. In a flock, there is a dominant sheep (the leader) that they instinctively follow. A striking story from 2005 in Turkey illustrates this: more than 400 sheep died after blindly following one sheep off a 15m high cliff. Another 1,100 followed but survived due to the pile of fallen sheep. It’s a tragic picture of what happens when we follow blindly.

Do you follow Jesus for yourself, or are you following someone else’s version of faith? Are you being led by the Spirit or by the herd?

"Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." Matthew 15:14

Following Jesus must be personal and rooted in a relationship. If your only connection to God is through your church or pastor on Sundays, it’s time to deepen your walk. Faith is not inherited or automatic. It’s intentional.

As Part of the 99, How Do You View the 1?

When someone who’s been far from God returns, do you celebrate or feel overlooked? Do you compare your years of faithful service with the ‘over-zealous’ joy for someone just saved?

The heart of the Father is always for redemption. Heaven rejoices when one lost soul is found (Luke 15:7).

Don’t look for applause from people. Look for God’s approval. He sees your quiet, faithful obedience even when others don’t. Keep praying for your unsaved family and friends. Keep loving people as Jesus does: graciously toward sinners, but never casual with sin.

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves." Romans 15:1

The Nature of Sheep and Why It Matters

Jesus didn’t randomly choose a sheep as the symbol in His parable. Sheep are particularly vulnerable animals. They have poor instincts for self-protection, tend to wander, and cannot find their way back unaided. Unlike a dog or a cat, a sheep doesn’t return home by itself. That’s what makes this image of Jesus going after the one so powerful: the sheep wouldn’t survive without rescue.

“No creature strays more easily than a sheep… and none is so incapable of finding its way back.” – Adam Clarke commentary

Spiritually, we are not so different. We may not intend to stray, but gradually, through distraction, disappointment, or deception, we find ourselves far from the fold. And like that sheep, we need someone to come for us, not with condemnation, but with compassion.

Who Is the Lost Sheep?

The lost sheep represents anyone who has wandered from the safety of God’s care. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, they’ve strayed, and without the Good Shepherd, they are vulnerable prey.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

Sheep can’t find their way back alone; they are designed for community. And so are we.

If you’ve wandered away from church or God because of shame, pain, or doubt, come home. Jesus doesn’t wait for you to clean yourself up. He comes to find you, pick you up, and carry you back.

Why People Wander

We often picture the “lost” as individuals living rebelliously. However, the reality is that people drift for various reasons. Some wander due to pain, such as unanswered prayers, betrayal, or tragedy. Others stray because of neglect or distraction. Still, some drift away, overwhelmed by shame, convinced they are too broken to deserve love.

Jesus tells us this parable to say: I see you. I’m coming for you. And I’m not giving up until you’re safe in My arms again.

The Joy of Being Found

"And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home." Luke 15:5

There is no blame in this rescue. Jesus doesn’t scold the sheep for getting lost. He carries it on His shoulders. Restores it. And then celebrates.

This is what “reckless love” looks like. It doesn’t make logical sense to leave 99 for 1. But Jesus isn’t just a shepherd – He’s the Good Shepherd, willing to risk everything for even one lost soul.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11

He left Heaven to enter a broken world.

He died to rescue us, even with no guarantee we’d accept Him.

That’s love. 

My Story: How God Came After Me

In 2012, after months of drifting and carrying heartache, I found myself lost and distant from God. Alone in a hotel room during my training year in a new city, with no church and no support system. I recall randomly opening my laptop and stumbling upon a sermon by Pastor Joel Osteen on YouTube. At that time, I had never even heard of him. But that message struck deep into my heart.

Soon after, I found a local church, stepped forward during an altar call, and rededicated my life to Jesus. That moment marked the beginning of a beautiful journey back home. It’s where my restoration began. What I didn’t know then was that my connection to that church would later lead to an even deeper blessing – I ended up marrying the pastor’s brother!

God’s love met me right in that hotel room. He didn’t wait for me to find Him, He came and found me.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you’re part of the 99:

• Celebrate the return of the lost.
• Keep deepening your personal walk with Jesus.
• Don’t coast in passive faith.

If you’re the 1:

• You’re never too far gone.
• Jesus is already pursuing you.
• Let Him carry you home.

What Is Reckless Love?

Reckless love defies logic. It’s relentless and extravagant.

“Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the 99
And I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away”
— “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury

Scriptures to Meditate On

1. Luke 15:7 – “There is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents…”
2. John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd…”
3. Isaiah 53:6 – “We all, like sheep, have gone astray…”
4. Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd…”
5. Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Ready to Be Found?

If you’ve wandered from God or never had a relationship with Him, you can come home today. There’s no sin too great, no distance too far.

Repentance isn’t condemnation, it’s hope. It means you can start again.

If you’re ready to return to the fold, pray this simple prayer from your heart:

“Dear Lord, I don’t want to keep wandering. I want to come home. Forgive me. Rescue me. Restore me. I surrender to You. Be my Shepherd and my Saviour. Amen.”

If you just made this decision, send me an email or drop a comment in the forum under “I Have Decided” I would love to celebrate with you!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re walking faithfully or finding your way back, remember: you matter deeply to God. He rejoices over your return, and He equips you to help bring others home as well.

Let’s be people who celebrate rescue, welcome the lost, love our neighbours, and trust the Good Shepherd with our whole hearts.

If this post spoke to you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. And if you know someone who might be feeling lost, share this post with them; it might be the reminder they need that they are worth being found. 💛