The Good Shepherd by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 3, 1863

The Good Shepherd.

By J. Clarke

"I AM the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." John x, 14.

This is a very beautiful figure, in which Jesus is the shepherd, and his people the flock of his pasture.

David, in Ps. xxiii, makes use of language conveying a similar idea: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters." Again, in Ps. lxxx, it is said, "Give ear, O shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock." Isaiah uses the same figure in chap. xi, 11: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."

Many like passages are to be found in the Bible, indicating the care that Jesus has for his devoted followers.

His sheep know his voice: they have a correct ear, and they come at his call. Impostors (wolves) are shunned. The sheep are endowed with discernment, and while they shrink from the doubtful call of the hireling and stranger, they confidently come at the voice of King Jesus.

Let us examine this subject, and see why it is that the flock so love the good Shepherd.

First, he was with God in the creation and arrangement of earth's beauties, when Eden first smiled, when this earth was a paradise, faultless in the sight of Jehovah. "By whom also he made the worlds." Heb. i, 2.

Second, when Satan rebelled in heaven, Jesus was foremost in sustaining the law of Jehovah, and the order of heaven, and the well being of the universe.

Third, when our first parents fell, and thereby entailed disgrace, ignominy, and sin upon unborn generations, Jesus stood in the breach, and, taking the burden upon himself, made a way for the ransom of an innumerable company of Adam's posterity.

By his care and pleading, and by his self-denying labors, by his agonies and cruel death, a way is made for the total destruction of sin and Satan, and with this the destruction of many a captive.

Satan in his effort to deprive King Jesus of his immortality, thereby forfeited his own. This is his capital offense, and on account of this he must finally die. See Heb. ii, 14: "That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil."

Satan once stood very high in heaven, and his fall brought with him very many who loved him, and the opportunity he has had (which has so developed the tendency of rebellion), of manifesting his true character, especially his attempt to annihilate Jesus Christ, must hereafter be abundant evidence to the universe, that God has acted with the greatest wisdom, in taking from this fallen angel and from his followers the blessed gift of life and reason.

God did not, as he might have done, at once fell the destroyer to the ground, and destroy him, but by allowing rebellion to culminate, he has showed to his universe of intelligences the awful nature of mutiny and discord, and forever shut out sympathy with rebels.

Perhaps had he struck Satan from existence at once, when he fell, some good, but weak, intelligent loving soul, might have said in his heart, Could not Satan have been reformed? Did not Jehovah act in haste? But no such thought will ever enter the mind of loving saint or angel. Why? Because time has so thoroughly developed the nature of his jealousy and rebellion, that the soul of every true-hearted being must recoil at the mention or rising thought of mercy for that arch traitor. And his followers, however young, would in time develop a like character. Thus it is proved to the universe, that the nature of rebellion is such, that all concerned must share his fate.

Man being Satan's victim, and not a voluntary participant in Satan's crime of rebellion, stands upon different ground in this offense from his seducer.

This being the case, God could consistently make a way for his ransom, could a sufficient redeemer be found. Heaven afforded but one character sufficient. Jesus did not hesitate, but undertook the task, and well has he done his work, without a flaw or error, and all who accept him, and break from their former allegiance to Satan, can be restored to their rightful Sovereign.

Glorious angels have at times appeared to good men, and they have often offered to worship these angels, but they have been forbidden. What then must be the character of Jesus, when all the heavenly host worship him?

We long to get a view of the glory and loveliness of Jesus, that our worship of him may be more deep and heart-felt, and that we may in spirit and in truth worship him as angels do.

He it is who is our rightful King. Then let us break all the cords that bind us down to this kingdom of Satan, for certain it is we cannot serve two masters.

He is the Wonderful, the Counsellor. He is always ready when we call upon him, to direct us, to defend and sustain.

He is the good Shepherd that giveth his life for the sheep. Soon he will come and gather his sheep from the living and the dead.

O what a glorious day will that be! Shall we be ready to answer his call?

J. CLARKE.