Chapter 12—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
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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 scat-
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tered 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.
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