JESUS bears the name of THE GOOD SHEPHERD. None other shepherd has such a name. He was never selfish. He did not come to make a gain out of the poor sheep. Oh, no; He came to heal the sick, to bind up that which was broken, and to bring together again those who were scattered. Shepherds may serve for hire, but the Good Shepherd serves for love. Jesus served His Father and the sheep, because He loved His Father’s will. He came from His bright home in heaven to toil and to suffer upon earth, because He so loved us.
We may know why Jesus bears this beautiful name of the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is so very kind, and so full of love and pity, that He “giveth His life for the sheep.” He loved His sheep so much that they were dearer to Him even than His own life.
The prophet Isaiah speaks very sweetly to us of the Good Shepherd. He says, “He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.”
The frontispiece will explain this beautiful text. Look at the little lamb. See the strong arm of the tall shepherd is under it. It cannot fall. It is quite safe. See, too, he has it in his bosom. “I am warm in Jesus’ bosom,” said a dear little child once. The little creature in our picture is very happy, as well as quite safe.
If your father had you in his arms, you would feel quite safe, because you could trust your father’s strength. I have never heard of a very little child saying, “Father, don’t let me fall.” It is only older children who have such fears; when in their father’s arms, they will say sometimes, “Don’t drop me, father!” If you repose on Jesus’ strength, you will never fear that He will let you fall.
Think of what He has said: “Neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.” A very strong robber might pluck the lamb out of the shepherd’s arms, but Jesus is Almighty, and none can steal us away from Him. No one—neither Satan, nor any one else—can steal away from the Good Shepherd the least of the little lambs who belong to Him.
If you had your head upon your mother’s bosom, you would feel quite happy, because of your trust in your mother’s love. I never yet heard of a tiny child saying, “My mother does not love me.” But Jesus’ love is stronger even than a mother’s, and He loves His own too much to part with even one of them. He loved His own so much that He died for them, and now that He has risen from the grave, and gone back to glory, He says, “Because I live ye shall live also.” —From Chapter 1, 2nd Edition, of “The Good Shepherd and His Lambs.”