IT was so nice to hear Grandma’s stories, and finding her alone one afternoon, little Teddie and May said, “Grandma, do tell us a true story.” So after seating themselves beside her, she began:
“Many years ago, a Shepherd in Palestine had a great many sheep, which He loved very much, and knew everyone by name. He fed His flock, and led them. He gathered the lambs with His arm, and carried them in His bosom. But the sheep were often wilful, and in danger of a fierce enemy, who would worry, or steal, or destroy them.
To show His great love, and save them, this wonderful shepherd said He would become as a sheep, in order that He might meet the enemy, and suffer and die instead of His sheep.
This Good Shepherd said, I will lay down My life for the sheep; and He allowed Himself to be led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He let Himself be killed without a struggle. Does it not show His great love and power, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death?
Shall I now tell you His name? It was Jesus.
“O! Grandma,” said Teddie, “that is a Bible story. But you said the Shepherd became as a sheep. How was that?”
Grandma explained in her simple way Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14): As the children are flesh and blood, Jesus also Himself likewise took part of the same. And while He was here on earth, He was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Isa. 53:77He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7).
So Grandma’s true story is to teach the great love and power of Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, in becoming a man, and going down into death, even the death of the Cross, to save us forever.
ML 04/07/1918