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Fundamentals of Christian Education
His impressive parable of the good shepherd represents the re-
sponsibility of every minister and of every Christian who has accepted
a position as teacher of children and youth and a teacher of old and
young, in opening to them the Scriptures. If one strays from the fold,
he is not followed with harsh words and with a whip, but with winning
invitations to return. The ninety and nine that had not strayed do not
call for the sympathy and tender, pitying love of the shepherd. But
the shepherd follows the sheep and lambs that have caused him the
greatest anxiety and have engrossed his sympathies. The disinterested,
faithful shepherd leaves all the rest of the sheep, and his whole heart
and soul and energies are taxed to seek the one that is lost. And then
the figure—praise God—the shepherd returns with the sheep, carrying
him in his arms, rejoicing at every step; he says,“Rejoice with me; for
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I have found my sheep which was lost.” I am so thankful we have in
the parable, the sheep found. And this is the very lesson the shepherd
is to learn,—success in bringing the sheep and lambs back.
There is no picture presented before our imagination of a sorrowful
shepherd returning without the sheep. And the Lord Jesus declares
the pleasure of the shepherd and his joy in finding the sheep causes
pleasure and rejoicing in heaven among the angels. The wisdom
of God, His power and His love, are without a parallel. It is the
divine guarantee that not one, even, of the straying sheep and lambs is
overlooked and not one left unsuccored. A golden chain—the mercy
and compassion of divine power—is passed around everyone of these
imperiled souls. Then shall not the human agent cooperate with God?
Shall he be sinful, failing, defective in character himself, regardless of
the soul ready to perish? Christ has linked him to His eternal throne
by offering His own life.
Zechariah’s description of Joshua, the high priest, is a striking
representation of the sinner for whom Christ is mediating that he may
be brought to repentance. Satan is standing at the right hand of the
Advocate, resisting the work of Christ, and pleading against Him that
man is his property, since he has chosen him as his ruler. But the
Defender of man, the Restorer, mightier than the mightiest, hears the
demands and claims of Satan, and answers him: “The Lord rebuke
thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee:
is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed
with filthy garments and stood before the angel. And He answered and