The Good Shepherd is our Lord Jesus Christ. A good shepherd is tender to his sheep. He leads them to the best pasture that he can find, and keeps them safe and quiet in it. He will not let any one hurt them. And if there is a poor, little, weak lamb, that can scarcely stand on its trembling limbs, he will take it up and carry it gently.
Christ's sheep and lambs are grown-up people and little children, whom He came into this world to seek and to save. And He will never leave them, but will gently and tenderly lead them all the way to heaven; for we are not to live here always. There are many hard things in the way to heaven. Sometimes our fathers and mothers die and leave us; and it is very sad for little children to have no father or mother to comfort them. Sometimes people have not food or clothes enough; that is very hard to bear. But the worst things of all in the way to heaven are our own bad tempers, our wicked hearts; for God will not allow those in heaven. But Christ will comfort us if we are in trouble; and He will cure our bad tempers, He will give us new and holy hearts if we ask Him; and so bring His sheep and His lambs safely home to heaven.
