Jesus is the Good Shepherd — E.A. Johnston

The Search for the Lost Wallet

Years ago, I was out canvassing a neighborhood, going door-to-door with the gospel and telling folks about Jesus. When I got back home, I was so exhausted I sank on the couch to rest a while. But I didn't rest long, because I soon noticed that my wallet was missing.

I jumped up from the couch and got back in my car and drove nervously back to that neighborhood, where I'd been knocking on doors and ringing doorbells. Frantically, I tried to retrace my steps as I searched for my wallet under bushes and looked for it as I scrutinized sidewalks, looking for my lost wallet.

My only hope was that whoever found it would contact me about it. By the time I got back home, I felt like a wrung-out dishrag, and I looked pretty beat up. My little four-year-old daughter came and sat next to me on the couch and asked, What's wrong, Daddy?

I explained to her I had lost my wallet, and I didn't know what else to do. She patted my arm and encouraged me. I looked for it, Daddy, and she began to look around the living room for that wallet. Before I could tell her she was wasting her time, she reached between the seat cushion on the couch and, with a grin, extracted my wallet and handed it to me.

Apparently, when I came home the first time from my evangelistic labors, the wallet had slipped out of my pant pocket between the seat cushions of the couch. Me and my little girl had a celebration over that found wallet with some milk and cookies.

The Lost Sheep and the Shepherd Who Seeks

Now I'll share that story with you, friends, because as I rejoiced over my found wallet over in Luke's gospel, we see the same principle played out in Luke chapter 15. We have the account of the lost sheep, where Jesus relates the parable to the Pharisees and scribes, saying, What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. That picture, friends, tells me that Jesus is the good shepherd who left the glories of heaven to come down here so we can go up there.

He went out on a search party for me when I was a lost sinner, and he found me and saved me, and he's been carrying me ever since. When I go off in a ditch of sin, he finds me, he lifts me, and he cleans me, and he carries me back to him.

Jesus Gives His Life for the Sheep

In the gospel of John in 10 .11, Jesus declares, I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. That bloody cross is where Jesus laid down his life for me, his sheep. In John 10 we read, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

The Shepherd in the Psalms and the Life of Faith

Jesus is presented in the Bible as a shepherd. Psalm 23 reads, The Lord is my shepherd. And in Psalm 79 .63, we are called the sheep of his pasture. Jesus is the good shepherd who loved me so much he died for me.

Galatians 2 .20 declares, Who loved me and gave himself for me. Jesus is the good shepherd, and he maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. And when it comes time for me to die, my shepherd will be by my side.

The Shepherd's Comfort in the Valley of Death

In the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. At thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. I'm glad that Jesus is my good shepherd. I'd be lost without him. Let us pray.