Who Goes After a Black Sheep?

We all know of that person labeled as a black sheep. They just don’t seem to fit in with the group; they often make bad decisions that give them a reputation as one who is to be avoided, for they will surely try to involve you in their mess. How did this reaction to a black sheep begin? Black sheep got a bad rap because when they were born into a flock of white sheep, they were considered to be undesirable, as black wool cannot be dyed into other colors. So black sheep were considered to be somewhat worthless in the manufacture of clothing.

So, what do you do with a black sheep?

Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he’ll see that it’s worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones,"
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I’ll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.Isaiah 53:11-12 (MSG)

Who is this mystery man that took up the cause of "all the black sheep"? He’s the same One who carried the burden of all the sins of all mankind; the same One who suffered a traitor’s death; He went to the lowest parts of the earth to take the keys of death and hell; He’s the same One who took upon Himself the sins of all mankind, eternity past, eternity present, eternity future. This man kept company with the lowest members of society, yet He was the King of all Kings. What made Him want to look out for the Black Sheep in families? Only a kind of love that "resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble". You see this Man was "touched by the feelings of our infirmities". Best of all this righteous One over the last two thousand years has made many black sheep righteous = all over the world.

sMaria