When Mr. Sandys went to the Belgian Congo as a missionary, he took with him his two big German police dogs, Wotan and Juno, to guard his house from marauding wild beasts and native thieves. The two dogs did their job well, but they were not too popular with the natives, some of whom suffered for their curiosity at night as they prowled around the missionary’s bungalow.
To keep peace with the villagers Mr. Sandys bought two stout muzzles which he put on the dogs at night. This had the effect of reducing Wotan’s and Juno’s harm to their terrified victims.
Sometime later Juno presented her mate with six healthy little police dog pups which she watched over with jealous care in an outer room of the house. Wotan would stretch himself out near the swinging door and guard the house and all inside.
One hot night a leopard came prowling about the mission and caught the scent of the puppies.
Circling around the house he came to the swinging door, where the muzzled Wotan waited quietly inside.
Hurling itself against the door, which immediately swung inward, the leopard found himself inside the house. Though helpless with his jaws strapped, the faithful Wotan went into action in defense of Juno and her pups. Handicapped as he was, he sprang upon the leopard, who grappled with him, while Juno filled the night with her barking. The din was deafening as the two great beasts battled furiously tether on the floor.
The missionary came running to the scene with his nightlight and could see the two fighters tangled in a death grip. They were between him and his gun, hanging on the wall, but he made his way cautiously and as hastily as he could around the roaring beasts. Just as he reached for his gun he saw the leopard sink its teeth into Wotan’s back. Then he fired both barrels into the spotted monster.
One of the pellets ricocheted from the floor and broke the lamp, putting out the light. Sandys was in total darkness with a leopard whom he did not know whether he had hit or not.
The din subsided, and Sandys, finding a matchbox, struck a light. There in the middle of the room lay the leopard quite dead, and across its body was sprawled Wotan, his back broken by the bite of the powerful jaws of his great enemy. Brave Wotan! The gallant dog died two days later. But he had gone into a hopeless death battle muzzled, to save his mate and babies.
This pathetic incident is but a faint shadow compared with the far more wonderful story of the love and sacrifice of Jesus the Son of God, who stood in the breach and laid down His life for poor helpless, hopeless sinners like us.
Though all His own may forsake and flee as danger drew near that dark night of His betrayal, nevertheless He went forth to meet His captors saying, “If therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way: that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, Of them which Thou gavest Me I have lost none.” John 18:8,98Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none. (John 18:8‑9).
Then on the cross He took the sinner’s place and bore the judgment and wrath of a holy God against the sins of all who trust Him as their Saviour. Might He not have saved Himself? He had no sins of His own.
Himself He could not save,
Love’s stream too deeply flowed.
ML-12/24/1978