"Good Sheep"

"And when He had gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto Him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." (Mark 10:17 & 18) As I thought about this title for today's post, I pictured a lamb sitting at the feet of Jesus, as Jesus sat upon a rock, looking out among the sheep, and being the Good Shepherd. When the Shepherd would rise up, then so would the lamb, expecting that it was time to move, and not wanting to be out of the Shepherds protective reach. This picture also made me think of the concept of 'waiting on the Lord'; however, this waiting is for a reason far greater than one might think, because the reason for this lamb to be waiting was for the protection of His Shepherd. One of the meanings of that word 'Ago', in the sense of being led, is that of 'bringing forth', or 'to bring forth'; which is to carry someone through a journey by leading. To carry someone through a journey may or may not require that the person be actually carried, but it might just imply that they are carried because they are so close. This is what is meant by being 'led by the Spirit'; and when we receive Jesus as our Lord, then we are to be carried through our journey, just as that lamb who is afraid to be out of the Good Shepherd's reach. It requires more than just acceptance of the fact that He is the Good Shepherd, because it also requires the knowledge of what you are being protected from; and also, in the case of our Salvation, what we are being carried to! This is also the purpose of the word 'follow' which was used by Jesus in His answer to the young man above: "Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt receive treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." (Mark 10:21) Which might also explain the actions of this same young man, when he latched onto Jesus in the Garden, as the soldiers were taking Jesus away! (Mark 14:51)