Jesus Leaves the 99: Luke 15 Set of 3 with Quiet Sketches and Italic Verses

This set of three follows Luke 15:4 to 7 in order. Print I shows the shepherd from behind, staff in hand, looking across the hills toward one sheep far away. In Print II he carries the lamb across his shoulders, smiling, and Print III opens onto light breaking through clouds over a wide plain, with one small sheep on the path. Under each pencil and wash style vignette, the verse is set in Cormorant Garamond italic on warm cream, numbered as part of the series.

Luke 15:4 to 7, the parable in three steps

Luke 15 opens with a complaint: tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear Jesus, and the Pharisees and scribes grumbled that he received them and ate with them. He answers with three parables, and the lost sheep is the first. Verse 4 asks the question, whether a man with a hundred sheep would not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost one until he finds it. Verses 5 and 6 tell what happens when he does: he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing, and calls his friends and neighbors to rejoice with him. Verse 7 gives the meaning, more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who need no repentance. The three prints split the passage at exactly those points.

Pencil and wash vignettes above italic serif

Each print has the same structure. A small oval vignette in a soft pencil and wash style sits in the upper third, in sage, sand and cream, fading out at its edges into the paper. Below it, a thin rule leads into the verse in Cormorant Garamond italic, centered in four or five lines. Another rule carries the reference, Luke 15:4, 15:5-6 or 15:7, in spaced capitals, and at the bottom the series line reads JESUS LEAVES THE 99 with the numbering I of III, II of III or III of III. The warm cream ground keeps the three calm next to each other. The photos show them in walnut frames with pale grey mats above a beige sofa with olive and linen cushions.

Where the set hangs, and how it differs from the watercolor set

Three frames in a row fit above a sofa, as in the photos, or down a hallway, where the numbering leads the eye from one print to the next. The set suits ministry and pastor appreciation gifts, a housewarming for believers, and anyone who likes modern Christian art with more type than color. The shop also has a Good Shepherd Watercolor Set of 6 with the same parable in pink blossom borders and fuller paintings; this set is quieter, with small sketches and longer verse text. For one large piece, the Jesus Leaves the Ninety Nine canvas shows the shepherd crossing golden valleys toward the lost sheep, printed on a stretched canvas that arrives ready to hang.

Files, sizes and an honest DPI limit

You receive nine files in three downloads, one per print: a 2:3 JPG, a 3:4 JPG and a printable PDF for each. The 2:3 files hold 300 DPI up to 16x24 inches, about 240 DPI at 20x30 and 200 DPI at 24x36. The 3:4 files hold 300 DPI up to 18x24. For a row of three, 12x18 or 16x24 frames from the 2:3 files, or 12x16 frames from the 3:4 files, keep the italic text sharp and readable. Print all three at the same size and in one run, on matte or fine art paper, so the cream ground matches from frame to frame. Set the printer to actual size so the series line at the bottom is not cut off.

Sizes and formats: 300 DPI up to 16x24 and 18x24, 200 DPI at 24x36

The verses

Frequently asked questions

Which translation is used for the Luke 15 verses?

The verses are typeset in the ESV, the English Standard Version. If you would like them in the King James Version, email support@theframedverse.com before you order, and we will tell you whether a KJV set can be prepared for you.

Can I hang all three in a row?

Yes, the set is designed to hang as a row. The prints share the same cream ground, italic type, rules and numbering, so they read as one piece side by side above a sofa or stacked in a narrow hallway. Use identical frames and keep two to three inches between them.

How is this set different from the watercolor Good Shepherd set?

The watercolor set has six full paintings with pink blossom borders and short lines of Scripture. This set has three small pencil and wash sketches and longer verse text, so it reads more like a page from a book. Choose this one for a calm, typographic look, and the watercolor set if you want color.

Which sizes look best in a row?

Above a sofa, three 12x18 or 16x24 prints from the 2:3 files hold the wall well. For a narrower space, three 12x16 prints from the 3:4 files work. All of these stay at 300 DPI. The largest 24x36 size drops to 200 DPI, which is fine for a single print, though a row of three at that size runs about seven feet wide with frames.

Is it a suitable gift for a pastor?

Yes. The parable describes the pastor's work in plain terms, going after the one, and the quiet design fits a church office or a study. The set suits pastor appreciation, an anniversary of ministry, or a farewell when a pastor moves on. Print the three at 8x12 or 12x16 and frame them alike.