Shepherd Stories: The Tackle
Standing at the barn door, peaking into the dim light I saw the large lamb. Standing there staring at me as I stared at him, the 125-pound lamb new something was up. It was time to worm him and he was not in an agreeable frame of mind to having liquid wormer squirted down the back of his throat. I heard Mary Poppins say, “A spoon full of sugar helps make the medicine go down.” This 125-pound lamb did not like sugar, did not want sugar and we stood there staring, eye to eye. Mary Poppins was wrong! Lamb to shepherd, me in the door jam of the barn and one angry lamb wanting nothing to do with me. Then, he took off running at me (Imagine the front lines of two football teams) and then he leapt into the air trying to jump over me to escape. I, the lone shepherd stood my ground, sort of. He hit me high on my chest and I grabbed onto his wooly body with all I could. Backwards I rolled, a good 360 backwards somersault, 200-pound shepherd and 125 pounds of really angry lamb rolling over each other in the mud and manure, and me not letting go. It was a bit of a wet day, so as we rolled over in our struggle, we both became covered with wet manure. I, the lone shepherd, covered in sheep manure from head to toe held on, and the angry lamb was captured. What a great tackle! Where was candid camera when needed?
David was a shepherd who slew the lion and the bear (I Sam. 17:34). As a shepherd, David knew it all. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” (Psalm 23:5 [NKJV]) Oil symbolizes a form of healing of both body and soul. On the day of the great tackle, I was to give this lamb some worm medicine which is akin to the oil of Psalm 23. Sometimes we just don’t want to take our medicine. Sometimes the shepherd has to get down and covered in wet manure to do what needs to be done.
Our lives should be made up of us helping each other like a shepherd helping his flock of sheep. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John13:34-35).
How far do we go in our love for each other? How much shepherding should we do for each other? “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). Jesus went all the way to His death for His sheep, us, you and me. On His last night of human life, in the upper room Jesus washed the feet of His disciples and broke bread as a symbol of His broken body and sipped wine as a symbol of His shed blood for our sins. He was giving to us an example of what to do with each other. (John 13:15). Later that evening He said, “Greater love has no one that this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13). This is the answer in how far we should go for the love of each other. Like Jesus, it is all the way.
Jesus was and is our shepherd. He gives us the medicine to make the gospel go down. Are we willing to listen and obey Him and follow His way of love towards others? When we need our spiritual medicine from Jesus, do we take it or do we become that angry 125-pound lamb who tried to jump over me? Not to worry, Jesus will hold on to us and never let go. He is willing to be knocked over backwards and to hold onto us. He will never let go as he died to save us. Jesus, the lone shepherd gets the MVP for the best sheep tackle. Hold on to Him as He loves each and every one of us.
Mike Wallace
