I spent my early years on a farm in the hills, and we had many lambs, and they needed much care. My father and his shepherd were often out very early in the mornings caring for them, especially the very young ones, which often perished in the frost and cold. Foxes and thieves also preyed upon them, so that they needed to be watched.
I remember one morning going out with Edgar, the shepherd, to see if all was well with the flock, when we discovered that two lambs, the very best were missing. No marks of foxes or trace of dogs were about the place, so Edgar concluded a thief had been there. He was a faithful shepherd, and a brave man, and as he looked around he said,
“If I could find a trace of the rascal, I would hunt him up, and he should have the opportunity of restoring my master’s property, or measuring his strength with mine.”
During the forenoon, Edgar disappeared, nobody knew where, but my father surmised he was off in pursuit of the thief. And soon we learned that he had, for late in the evening Edgar returned with the two lambs under his arms, bearing them gently in his bosom, but his face and hands were sorely wounded. He had overtaken the man, and demanded the lambs, but the robber would not deliver them up. Edgar blew his whistle, but before help came, the villain had attacked the faithful shepherd who suffered badly in the conflict, but the lambs were saved and the robber was arrested and brought to justice.
Oft as I remember this incident of my early years, I see in it a picture of Christ the Good Shepherd, who encountered the great “thief” (John 10:1010The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)),who came to steal, and had so far succeeded that you and I were in his grasp, led on to destruion at his will, with no power to deliver ourselves. Then it was the Son of God went forth, and encountering the great adversary, triumphed over him, yet not without bearing the marks of the conflict.
There was great rejoicing when Edgar brought back the lost lambs to the farm, but greater far is the joy of heaven, when lost sinners are saved and brought back to God.
“I say unto you, that likewise, joy shall he in heaven over one sinner that renteth,”
ML 09/13/1942