‘THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

433

CCXOVI.

JHE Goon SHEPHERD.

ESUS sometimes called
Himself a shepherd, and
His disciples He called
His sheep. How is Jesus
like a shepherd ?

A good shepherd takes care of his
flock. If one sheep strays from the
fold, he goes after it, and seeks it ;
and when he has found it, he lays it
on his shoulders, and brings it home
rejoicing. So “all we, like sheep,
have gone astray;” Isaiah lili. 6;
and Jesus Christ, the good shep-
herd, came down from Heaven to
seek and save us. “The Son of
man is come to seek and to save
that which was lost.” Matt. xviii. 11.

A good shepherd risks his own
life to save his flock. When young
David kept his father’s sheep in
Bethlehem, there came a lion and a
bear, and took a lamb out of the
flock; and David went after those
savage beasts, and killed them and
delivered the lamb out of their
mouth, and brought it back safely
to the fold. And so Jesus Christ,
of whom the shepherd David was a
type, was willing even to lay down
His life for His sheep. He died to
save His people; to deliver them
from the power of that “roaring
lion who walketh about seeking
whom he may devour.”
vy. 8.

A good shepherd leads his sheep
to fresh grass, and streams of clear
water. So Jesus feeds His people

 

1 Peter’

with spiritual food, and gives them
“living water” to. drink. David
says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want. He maketh me to
he down in green pastures; He
leadeth me beside the still waters.”
Psalms xxiii. 1, 2.

A good shepherd takes great care
of the little lambs in his flock; he
is very kind and gentle to them.
So Jesus loves his lambs,—those
little children who love Him. He
says, “ Suffer little children to come
unto me.” Matt. xix.14. He “shall
gather the lambs in His arms, and
carry them in His bosom.” Isaiah
xl. 11.

A good shepherd, in eastern coun-
tries like Judea, knows every sheep
and lamb in his flock; and calls
them by their names, and they
know him, and follow him. And
so the Lord Jesus Christ knows
all His people ;—every little child
among them; and He calls them
in His word, and by His Spirit;
and they love to obey Him, and to
follow Him. And where will He
lead His people ? He will lead them
through this wilderness world, and
bring them safely to their fold in
Heaven. Let us pray that we may
be among the sheep and lambs of
Christ, to whom He says, “ Fear
not, little flock, it is your Father’s
good. pleasure to give you the king-
dom.” Luke xii. 32.