WHAT joy has the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep, in going after, finding, and bringing home to God a poor lost soul! The sheep which He layeth on His shoulders, or carries in His bosom, may have but little joy in what His love is doing for it. Nay, in its folly it may even struggle to get away from its safe and happy place. And even if it has joy, what is it but as that of the shallow brooklet to the deep wellspring of the joy of His heart? His is so great, so overflowing, that He asks and looks for fellowship in His joy. “Rejoice with Me; FOR I have found My sheep which was lost.” And all that have one mind with Him in this, His joy “over one sinner that repenteth,” cannot but respond to the joy of His heart, and rejoice WITH HIM.
Do we not see in the woman of Samaria a delightful instance of this great and Good Shepherd thus going after, finding, and carrying home, rejoicing, the one sheep that was lost. Truly, she was at the well. But who had drawn her there? Even He that met her there, and revealed Himself to her.
“Lord! ‘twas Thy pow’r unseen that drew
The stray one to that place,
In solitude to learn from Thee
The secrets of Thy grace.”
“And this is the Father’s will that hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”