SEE all these little lambs about the baby. Do you think they have come to hurt her? If you know much about lambs you will say very quickly, “No.”
Suppose they were lions or bears or wolves; they would soon destroy the little child. But lambs and sheep are the gentlest of creatures. They would not harm anyone.
Do You know what our nice warm blankets and woolen clothes, that keep out the cold so well in winter, are made from? It is from the wool that grows on the sheep. When this wool gets long, some men, called shearers, cut or shear off the wool, and it is used to make all these nice warm things we need and like so much.
After while the sheep’s wool grows long again and the shearers give it a second cutting. Then later they cut it again and many times more.
Now, what do you think the sheep do while the shearers are shearing off the wool? Do you suppose they jump around and bleat and make a big fuss? No, they stand still and do not make a sound.
Dear children, what you have been reading about the lambs and sheep is written to help you understand better some things in God’s word. You know Jesus is called the Lamb of God.
You often read in the Old Testament about lambs being offered up as sacrifices for sins. These sacrifices were types of the one great Sacrifice that was offered “Once for all”—types of Jesus, the Lamb that was a perfect sacrifice and did not need to be offered again and again.
Because the lamb is such a meek and gentle creature, it was a suitable type of the meek and lowly Jesus, who offered Himself as a lamb to God for your sins and mine.
In Isaiah 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) we are told, “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before the shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Just as a sheep is so quiet when being led away to be killed, or when the shearers are cutting its wool, so Jesus went into death and endured the most terrible suffering without drawing back—without murmuring. And all this, dear reader, for you, that you might not suffer the deserved punishment of your sins. Do you love Him in return for such great love?
ML 04/28/1912