The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-04-17

the good shepherd glVetn MS
life for the sheep" John 1O:1l.
It does not make much difference
where we live or the occupation to
which most of our time is given,
our hearts always respond to the
picture of the Good Shepherd. From
the very earliest days of the church
men were pleased in painting and
sculpturing the Christ as the Good
Shepherd. In thousands of homes
one of the most beloved pictures is
that of Jesus and His sheep.
Somehow it is more than Senti-
ment that makes us love Him as the
Good Shepherd. 1t is because as the
Good Shepherd, He so fills a great
need. 1t IS the assurance to our souls
that He will lead, guide and pro-
tect; in Him mercy and truth meet
together
Al the time when Jesus uttered
the words of our text Jesus was in
Jerusalem at the feast of Taber-
nacleS. Anger and sorrow mingled
as He taught and worked. Most of
His people would have none of Him.
1t seemed that nothing would
convince them that He had come
forth from God. He had tried both
truth and miracle. 1t seemed that
the Pharisees and the Sanhedrim
were deliberately seeking to put
some wrong construction or mean
ing on His every word and act.
Jesus must again bear witness to
His mission as Saviour Of men. So
He saith of Himself, Il am the good
shepherd"
For centuries Israel had looked
for the One who should come and
lead and provide for them. He was
there and they received Him not.
Yet He declares Himself to be the
One who had been long expected.
81 am the Good Shepher | am He"
Now times have changed, but the
needs of men are forever the same.
Somewhere about 200 years ago
a certain character by the name of
Voltaire began his command that
Christianity be uprooted that we
rest all of our hopes upon the INTEL
igence of men Voltaire's disciples
went into every land, they cried for
the end of the rule of faith and
cried for the beginning of the rule
of the Age of Reason. Many were
led astray. Voltaire proved to be
a poor guide and shepherd for the
tortured souls of men who remain
restless until they find God
The human family has followed
many who have proclaimed to be
the shepherd of prosperity. 1t has
followed inventions, laws, educa-
ton and business; all these were
to lead us to land of promise. Big
business, big politics, power diplom-
acy held the eye and ear of the
people of all nations. Big armies and
navies by means of the two biggest
wars in all history were to bring
enduring and lasting peace and to
establish forever the principles of
democracy in all lands. Preachers
and teachers have had little place
in the thought of a people who took
no though for the morrow. All eyes
seemed to be turned to largeness, it
was bigger barns, bigger factories,
bigger buildings. Men could not and
would not hear the plea Build thee
more stately mansions o my soul
as the swift season roll
We were and still are so filled up
with the idea of all that is worth
while being tied up with success in
this life, that we care little about
the SOUL and still less as to whether
that soul has a Good Shepherd. 1t
seems to be that the modern motto
is, own your own home, but put
your soul in pawn so that you may
eat, drink and be merry"
But still in this world in which
there is still so much that denies
and betrays Christ, He calls, Il am
the Good Shepherd"
The world is crying out in the
midst of confusion for leader. The
Christian church has that leader,
He is to be found in Him, of whom
we sing, beautiful Saviour Lord
of the Nations, Son of God, Son of
Man" He it is who is the Good
Shepherd, who knows what is good
for Gods people, who is strong
enough to raise His voice above the
shoutings of the confused multtudes
to tell them, Il am the Way! Nc
one cometh to the Father but by
me" He alone has and is the Truth
The good shepherd eXclaims, Il
lay down my life for the sheep
Jesus gave His all for the salvation
of the bodies and souls of men We
therefore no longer live in an earth
ly house which can be looked upon
as merely a Clod of earth. Through
Christ the earthly house becomes {
temple of the Holy Ghost No long
er is the soul of man held in chains
more CALLING than brands of iron
for knowing Him is the truth, the
soul is free. The dangers that beset
man have lost their power Christ
in laying down His life has won the
victory for us over them.
The Good Shepherd stopped doWr
and saved you and me, strayine
sheep, but it cost Him his life He
died that we might live richly ir
God both now and forever.
Sometimes we hear the false aC.
cusation against Christianity that {
man cannot cash in as it were upor
its benefits until after He is dead
Our Lord exposes the error of those
who say such things when He de
clares II know my sheep" He il
other words was not only the Shep
herd for the time in which he wa!
in the flesh upon earth, but for al