The Tupelo journal., 1902-11-21
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
Beautiful Relationship Which Christ
Sustains to His Followers.
sermon by the "Hishwny md By
way" Preacher on One of the
Six Striking Declarations
of Christ.

OF Christ.
Copyright, 1902, by A. N. kellogg News
ape Col
Chicago, 1902.
Text I'M the Good Shepherd: the
Good Shepherd giveth His life for the
sheep."-John 10:11.
Like the mothers lullaby to the ear
of the little tired child as it rests its
weary head on her bosom and finds
rest. and comfort, and safety; like
the soft clear note of the nightingale
cleaving the darkness of the midnight
air and reassuring the affrighted soul;
like the burst of melody floating out
over the noise of the tumultuous crowd
stilling it to enrapt silence; like the
glad songs of the birds and ripping
laughter of the childrenabove the roar
of the mighty rushing Niagara; like
the quiet lull aud the glorious burst OF
sunshine after the blackness OF the
whirling cloud and the rush of the
tempest, so are the words of our text
to the weary sinsick, troubled soul.
81 am the Good Shepherd" The
words, like the peace, be STILL" spo-
ken over the troubled dashing waters
of Galilee, soothing themto placid qui-
stness, fall on the ears of the wander
ing sheep o. the world and draw many
of them from the byways of death to
the green pasture land of Gods love,
and the pathway that leads to Llfe
Eternal. The kiss of the prince OF
the fairy tale was potent to wake the
sleeping princess and deliver her from
the spell which bound her. The gen
tie, sweet words, Il am the GOOD Shep-
herd" waited on the soft breezes OF
Gods love around the globe, are able
to kindle new life and hope in the
fallen sheep, and as the pleading look
of helplessness is lifted to the face OF
the Good Shepherd as He passes by
His loving arms are outstretched
the sinsick, dying soul is clasped to
His bosom.
David, the simple shepherd lad,
whose quick ear had caught the music
of the gurgling, splashing mountain
streams, and the glad song of the
birds, and whose deft fingers had
learned to pick out the notes upon his
willing. responsive harp, played be-
fore X ng Saul when the evil spirit
of a rebellious heart possessed him,
and soothed that turbid soul to quiet
ness, and Jesus, with the music of HIS
love learned in Heaven, comes to the
world with His message: Il am the
Good Shepherd" and longs to win the
wandering world back to God. David,
as he tended his sheep, sang: The
Lord is my Shepherd" and the bright
star of his hope rose in the fullness o.
time over Bethlehem, and Jesus
came, declaring: 81 am the Good
Shepherd" As David gently led his
focks into the green pastures and be-
side the still waters which his quick,
watchful eve so faithfully searched
out, his heart sang in gratitude to
God as he felt every desire of his soul
gratified, and he knew that the Lord
was leading him beside the still wa
tiers and making him to lie down in
green pastures. And Jesus. the Good
Shepherd. came with the living water,
saying: "Whosoever drinketh of the
water that l shall give him shall never
thirst; but the water that L shall
give him shall be in him a
well of water springing Up into
Everlasting Life" And He led
the way into the green pastures OF
in~exhaustible supply as He said: 81
am the Living Bread; he that comath
to Me shall never hunger" They say
a hungry sheep will never lie down to
rest, and David knew his sheep were
satisfied as he saw them resting in
quiet contentment IN the green, slop-
ing hillsides of Judea. Jesus, the
Good Shepherd, calls to the wandering
sheep of the world: "Come unto Me,
all Ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and | will give you rest" He alone can
give rest unto the soul, because He
alone can feed it and quench its
thirst. David heard the roar of the
wild beasts as it echoed among the
rocks and in the thick u~nderbrush
which skirted the green pasture
where his flock was feeding; he saw
the lion and the bear, which had crept
up unawares, make off with the little
lambs innocently gamboling on the
outer edges of the flock. and had
swiftly given pursuit. He delivered
the lambs out of their dreadful peril
and when the lion and the bear
turned upon him to rend him he smote
them and slew both the lion and the
bear" Jesus, the Good Shepherd,
hears the roar of the devil as he goes
about through the earth, seeking
whom he may devour," but "He is able
to save unto the uttermost," and
when His sheep let Him fight for them
the devil is driven away every time
and the Good Shepherd turns to His
Father in Heaven and says: Those
that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and
none of them is lost" Oh, what q
wonderful declaration it is to hear
Jesus say: Il am the Good Shep-
herd; the Good Shepherd giveth His
life for the sheep!"
Wandering Sheep.-God gave to
ISalan a true SHnpSe OF the II
ton of the world, and the faithful
prophet cries out: "All we like sheer
have gone astray, we have turned
every one to his W way" Wander
ing sheep out on the mountain side
of sin. Wandering sheep in Chris.
tian America, in chaotic. South
America, in darkest Africa, in devil
~worshiping Asia, in cultured, intel
.lectual Europe, and in the isles of the
sea; wandering sheep everywhere
Wandering sheep caught in the thick.
- morIdIv plaacr1ras in the thick.