The earliest known piece of art depicting Jesus was found painted on the wall of a Syrian church, dated around 235 AD, Dykes said. The piece depicts a famous story of Christ healing a lame man.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus addresses his followers and larger community. Within the larger Gospel context, Jesus had recently declared himself the good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep.

The Good Shepherd and the Lost Sheep are long constants in the tradition of Christian sacred art, going back even to the catacombs. Today’s Gospel is illustrated by an oil painting by American ...

Jesus came to serve those same people and made that clear when He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). While I wrote that verse, I experienced what I call a ...

This parable is one of six known as prayer parables: The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, The Lost Son, The Pharisee and Tax Collector, The Friend at Midnight, and the Persistent Widow.