STORY OF JESUS - 4
The Good Shepherd
The Saviour spoke of Himself as a shepherd, and of the disciples as His
flock. He said: "I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of
Mine." John 10:14.
Christ was soon to leave His disciples, and He said this to give them
comfort. When He should be no more with them, they would remember His words.
Whenever they saw a shepherd watching his flock, they would think of the
Saviour's love and care for them.
In that land the shepherd stayed with his flock day and night. Over the
rocky hills and through the forests he led them by day, to pleasant, grassy
fields by the riverside.
Through the night he watched them, guarding them from wild beasts and
from robbers, that were often lurking near.
Tenderly He cared for the feeble and sickly ones. The little lambs He
took in His arms, and carried in His bosom.
However large the flock, the shepherd knew every sheep. He had a name for
each, and called it by its name.
So Christ, the heavenly Shepherd, cares for His flock that is scattered
throughout the world. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house in which
we live, and the name of each inmate. He cares for each one as if there were not
another in the whole world.
The shepherd went before his sheep, and met all the dangers. He
encountered the wild beasts and the robbers. Sometimes the shepherd was killed
while guarding his flock.
So the Saviour guards His flock of
disciples. He has gone before us. He has lived on earth, as we live. He was a
child, a youth, a man. He overcame Satan and all his temptations, so that we may
overcome.
He died to save us. Though now He is in Heaven, He does not forget us for
a moment. He will safely keep every sheep. Not one that follows Him can be taken
by the great enemy.
A shepherd might have a hundred sheep, but if one was missing he did not
stay with those that were in the fold. He went to search for the lost one.
Out in the dark night, through the storm, over mountains and valleys, he
would go. He would not rest till the sheep was found.
Then he took it in his arms, and carried it back to the fold. He did not
complain of the long, hard search, but gladly said:
"Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
Luke 15:4-7.
So the care of the Saviour-Shepherd is not for those only who are in the
fold. He says, "The Son of man is come to save that which was lost."
Matthew 18:11.
"I say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in heaven over one
sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need
no repentance." Luke 15:7.
We have sinned, and have wandered away from God. Christ says we are like
the sheep that has wandered away from the fold. He came to help us live without
sin. This He calls bringing us back to the fold.
When we return with the Shepherd, and cease to sin, Christ says to the
angels in Heaven: "Rejoice with Me; for I have found My sheep which was
lost."
And a joyful anthem rings out from the angelic choir, filling all Heaven
with richest melody.
Christ presents to us no picture of a sorrowful shepherd returning
without the sheep. Here is a pledge that not even one of the straying sheep of
God's fold is overlooked.
Not one is left unhelped. Every one that will submit to be ransomed, the
Saviour will rescue from the wilds of sin.
Then let every wanderer from the fold take courage. The Good Shepherd is
searching for you. Remember that His work is "to save that which was
lost." That means you.
To doubt the possibility of your salvation is to doubt the saving power
of Him who purchased you at an infinite cost. Let faith take the place of
unbelief. Look at the hands that were pierced for you, and rejoice in their
power to save.
Remember that God and Christ are interested in you, and that all the host
of Heaven are engaged in the work for the salvation of sinners.
While Christ was on earth, He showed by His miracles that He had power to
save unto the uttermost. By curing the diseases of the body, He showed that He
was able to take away sin from the heart.
He caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the blind to see. He
cleansed the poor lepers, and healed the man with palsy, and those who had all
kinds of diseases.
By His word, even the devils were driven out from the ones whom they had
been possessing. Those who saw this wonderful work were astonished, and said:
"What a word is this! For with authority and power He commandeth the
unclean spirits, and they come out!" Luke 4:36.
At the command of Jesus, Peter was able to walk on the water. But he had
to keep his eyes on the Saviour. As soon as he looked away, he began to doubt
and sink.
Then he cried, "Lord, save me," and the Saviour's hand was
stretched forth to lift him up. Matthew 14:28-31. So whenever one cries to Him
for help, the hand of Christ is stretched forth to save.
The Saviour raised the dead to life. One of these was the widow's son at
Nain. The people were carrying him to the grave, when they met Jesus. He took
the young man by the hand, lifted him up, and gave him alive to his mother. Then
the company went back to their homes with shouts of rejoicing and praise to God.
So also the daughter of Jairus was raised, and by Christ's word, Lazarus,
who had been dead four days, was called forth from the tomb.
So when Christ shall come to earth again, His voice will pierce the
tombs, and "the dead in Christ shall rise" to glorious, immortal life;
and so shall they "ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.
It was a wonderful work done by our Lord during His ministry on earth. Of
this work He spoke in the answer He sent to John the Baptist. John was in
prison, and had become despondent; he was even troubled by doubts as to whether
Jesus was really the Messiah. So he sent some of his followers to ask the
Saviour:
"Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?"
When the messengers came to Jesus, there were about Him many sick, whom
He was healing. All day the messengers waited, while He worked with tireless
activity to help the suffering ones. At last He said:
"Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the
blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the
deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to
them." Matthew 11:3-5.
So, for three years and a half, Jesus "went about doing good."
Then the time came for His ministry on earth to be finished. With His disciples
He must go up to Jerusalem to be betrayed, condemned, and crucified.
Thus were to be fulfilled His own words, "The Good Shepherd giveth
His life for the sheep." John 10:11.
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. . . . He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the
Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-6.
Riding Into Jerusalem
Jesus was nearing Jerusalem to attend the Passover. He was surrounded by
multitudes who were also going up to this great yearly feast.
At His command, two of the disciples brought an ass's colt that He might
ride into Jerusalem. They spread their garments upon the beast, and placed their
Master upon it.
As soon as He was seated, a loud shout of triumph rent the air. The
multitude hailed Him as Messiah, their King. More than five hundred years
before, the prophet had foretold this scene:
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; . . . behold, thy King cometh
unto thee; . . . lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an
ass." Zechariah 9:9.
All in the rapidly increasing throng were happy and excited. They could
not offer Him costly gifts, but they spread their outer garments, as a carpet,
in His path.
They broke off the beautiful branches of the olive and the palm, and
strewed them in the way. They thought they were escorting Christ to take
possession of the throne of David in Jerusalem.
The Saviour had never before allowed His followers to show Him kingly
honors. But at this time He desired especially to manifest Himself to the world
as its Redeemer.
The Son of God was about to become a sacrifice for the sins of men. His
church in all succeeding ages must make His death a subject of deep thought and
study. It was necessary, then, that the eyes of all people should now be
directed to Him.
After such a scene as this, His trial and crucifixion could never be
hidden from the world. It was God's design that each event in the closing days
of the Saviour's life should be so plainly marked that no power could cause it
to be forgotten.
In the vast multitude surrounding the Saviour were the evidences of His
miracle-working power.
The blind whom He had restored to sight were leading the way.
The dumb whose tongues He had loosed, shouted the loudest hosannas.
The cripples whom He had healed leaped for joy, and were most active in
breaking the palm branches and waving them before Him.
Widows and orphans were exalting the name of Jesus for His works of mercy
to them.
The loathsome lepers who had been cleansed by a word, spread their
garments in the way.
Those who had been raised from the dead by the life-giving voice of the
Saviour were there.
And Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the grave, but who was now
enjoying the strength of glorious manhood, was with the happy throng that
escorted the Saviour to Jerusalem.
As new numbers were added to the throng, they caught the inspiration of
the hour, and joined in the shouts that echoed and re-echoed from hill to hill
and from valley to valley:
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometh in the name
of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest." Matthew 21:9.
Many Pharisees witnessed this scene, and were displeased. They felt that
they were losing the control of the people. With all their authority they tried
to silence them; but their threats and appeals only increased the enthusiasm.
Finding that they could not control the people, they pressed through the
crowd to where Jesus was, and said to Him: "Master, rebuke Thy
disciples."
They declared that such a tumult was unlawful, and would not be permitted
by the rulers.
Jesus said, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the
stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:39, 40.
This scene of triumph was of God's own appointing; it had been foretold
by the prophets, and no earthly power could stop it. The work of God will ever
go forward, in spite of all that man may do to hinder it or tear it down.
As the procession came to the brow of the hill overlooking Jerusalem, the
full splendor of the city met their view.
The vast multitude hushed their shouts, spellbound by the sudden vision
of beauty. All eyes turned upon the Saviour, expecting to see in His countenance
the admiration which they themselves felt.
Jesus halted, and a cloud of sorrow gathered upon His countenance, and
the multitude were astonished to see Him burst into an agony of weeping.
Those who surrounded the Saviour could not understand His grief; but He
wept for the city that was doomed.
It had been the child of His care, and His heart was filled with anguish
as He realized that it would soon be made desolate.
Had her people given heed to Christ's teaching, and received Him as the
Saviour, Jerusalem would have "stood forever."
She might have become the queen of kingdoms, free in the strength of her
God-given power.
There would then have been no armed soldiers waiting at her gates, no
Roman banners waving from her walls.
From Jerusalem the dove of peace would have gone to all nations. She
would have been the crowning glory of the world.
But the Jews had rejected their Saviour; they were about to crucify their
King. And when the sun should set that night, the doom of Jerusalem would be
forever sealed. (About forty years afterward, Jerusalem was utterly destroyed
and burned with fire by the Roman army.)
Reports had come to the rulers that Jesus was nearing the city with a
vast company of followers. They went out to meet Him, hoping to scatter the
throng. With a show of much authority they asked: "Who is this?"
Matthew 21:10.
The disciples, filled with the Spirit of inspiration, answered:
"Adam will tell you, 'It is the Seed of the woman that shall bruise the
serpent's head.'
"Ask Abraham. He will tell you, 'It is Melchisedek, King of Salem,
King of Peace.'
"Jacob will tell you, 'He is Shiloh of the tribe of Judah.'
"Isaiah will tell you, 'Immanuel, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty
God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.'
"Jeremiah will tell you, 'The Branch of David, the Lord, our
righteousness.'
"Daniel will tell you, 'He is the Messiah.'
"Hosea will tell you, 'He is the Lord God of Hosts, the Lord is His
memorial.'
"John the Baptist will tell you, 'He is the Lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world.'
"The great Jehovah has proclaimed from His throne, 'This is My
beloved Son.'
"We, His disciples, declare, 'This is Jesus, the Messiah, the Prince
of Life, the Redeemer.'
"And even the prince of the power of darkness acknowledges Him,
saying, 'I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God!'"
Take These Things Hence
The next day Christ entered the temple. Three years before, He had found
men buying and selling in the outer court, and had rebuked them and driven them
out.
Now as He came again to the temple, He found the same traffic still
carried on. The court was filled with cattle, sheep, and birds. These were sold
to those who wished to offer sacrifice for their sins.
Extortion and robbery were practiced by those engaged in this traffic. So
great was the babel of sounds from the court, that it seriously disturbed the
worshipers within.
Christ stood on the steps of the temple, and again His piercing gaze
swept over the court. All eyes were turned toward Him. The voices of the people
and the noise of the cattle were hushed. All looked with astonishment and awe
upon the Son of God.
The divine flashed through the human, and gave Jesus a dignity and glory
He had never manifested before. The silence became almost unbearable.
At last He said in clear tones, and with a power that swayed the people
like a mighty tempest:
"It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it
a den of thieves." Luke 19:46.
With still greater authority than He had manifested three years before,
He commanded:
"Take these things hence."
Once before the priests and rulers of the temple had fled at the sound of
this voice. Afterward they were ashamed of their fear. They felt that they would
never flee in this way again.
Yet they were now more terrified, and in greater haste than before to
obey His command, and they rushed from the temple, driving their cattle before
them.
Soon the court was filled with people who brought their sick to be healed
by Jesus. Some were dying. These afflicted ones felt their distressing need.
They fixed their eyes imploringly upon the face of Christ, fearing to see
there the severity which had driven out the buyers and sellers. But they saw in
His face only love and tender pity.
Jesus kindly received the sick, and disease and suffering fled at the
touch of His hand. He tenderly gathered the children in His arms, soothed their
fretful cries, banished sickness and pain from their little forms, and handed
them back, smiling and healthy, to their mothers.
What a scene to greet the priests and rulers as they cautiously made
their way back to the temple! They heard the voices of men, women, and children
praising God.
They saw the sick healed, the blind restored to sight, the deaf receive
their hearing, and the lame leap for joy.
The children took the lead in these rejoicings. They repeated the
hosannas of the day before, and waved palm branches before the Saviour. The
temple echoed and re-echoed with their shouts:
"Hosanna to the Son of David:
"Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!" Matthew
21:9.
"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having
salvation." Zechariah 9:9.
The rulers tried to silence the shouts of the happy children, but all
were filled with joy and praise for the wonderful works of Jesus, and they would
not be silenced.
The rulers then turned to the Saviour, hoping that He would command them
to cease. They said to Him:
"Hearest Thou what these say?"
Jesus replied, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes
and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?" Matthew 21:16.
The blessed privilege of heralding the birth of Christ and forwarding His
work in the earth had been refused by the haughty rulers of the people. His praises must be sounded; and God chose the children to do it. Had the voices of these rejoicing children been silenced, the very pillars of the temple would have cried out in the Saviour's praise. |
