"He has practically all the sheep in," declared John. "He could wait a little while till this lets up."
"He would leave his flock here and search all night for a sheep," remarked Jesus.
"He ought not to risk his life like that," answered James.
"A good shepherd is ready to face death to find just one sheep," said Jesus.
Death! The twelve men had been able to think of nothing but fear and death the whole day through. Why did the Master talk about it so much?
At that instant the shepherd came back. Under his arm was a lamb, frightened but not harmed. "There," sighed the man, putting it gently down. "Now all are safe."
"You are hurt!" exclaimed Peter. He knelt and gently touched the man's ankle. The shepherd flinched, but said, "Oh, it is nothing!"
"Let me bandage it," insisted Peter. The man sat down; he was in pain. "How did this happen?" asked Peter, tearing a strip of cloth from the long loose shirt he wore.
"I heard the little one crying and ran toward him," answered the man. "I must have stumbled on a sharp rock."
Jesus was watching the man. "You are a faithful shepherd," he said.