So the shepherd leaned over the abyss and stretched out his hands, and, regardless of the tearing thorns, he grasped his sheep, he disentangled the briars, and lifted it into safety.
But the sheep was so weary and faint, that it could not walk; so the tender shepherd put it on to his shoulders, and brought it home rejoicing!
And then the shepherd called his friends together, saying:
"Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost!"
This is a word-picture of what our Lord Jesus is. "The Good Shepherd, Who giveth His life for the sheep!"
If we feel that we have wandered away, we can go and tell Jesus, and He will forgive us.
Or if we are in any trouble or danger, He is ever near us, to help us and guide us, and do us good.
And when the little lamb comes to Jesus, and says, "I am sorry," or the big sheep comes back and asks forgiveness, then Jesus rejoices, and says to us all: "I say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth."