meanings of “noble, praiseworthy, desirable, and pleasing to God.” Jesus qualifies. Sheep are mentioned in the Bible over three hundred times, more than any other animal. It may be embarrassing to some believers to learn that sheep are defenseless animals and prone to go astray. (They have poor eyesight and tend to follow other sheep without thinking.) Sheep can also be very stubborn. They are ceremonially clean animals and were frequently offered for sacrifices. The Jewish people raised sheep primarily