The concept of the grace of God can be a difficult one to accept, especially in the presence of t... more The concept of the grace of God can be a difficult one to accept, especially in the presence of the great evil that is sometimes a reality in life. Mercy can seem significantly out of place. Nevertheless, divine grace informs the actuality of life, providing a coherence and structure that reflects a merciful Deity.
A realistic and humble understanding of the relationship with an ultimate benefactor keeps perspe... more A realistic and humble understanding of the relationship with an ultimate benefactor keeps perspective sharp. The Psalmist sang: “enter into His [Yahweh’s] gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name” (Ps. 100:4). Genuine thankfulness cements appropriate behavior in connection with those to whom gratitude is owed. With the Christian’s deep indebtedness to Jesus Christ, true and heartfelt thankfulness should be a hallmark of the life of every believer.
The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed t... more The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed the expressed word of the living God of Christianity, then its pronouncements are a normative standard. If the Bible is found to be nothing more than the musings of flawed humanity, then the structure of Christian belief is no more authoritative than the drivel written in a cookie from the local noodle house. This essay will articulate the Christian belief in the inspiration of Scripture and examine the implications of having the written declaration, captured in space and time, of an eternal God.
The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed t... more The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed the expressed word of the living God of Christianity, then its pronouncements are a normative standard. If the Bible is found to be nothing more than the musings of flawed humanity, then the structure of Christian belief is no more authoritative than the drivel written in a cookie from the local noodle house. This essay will articulate the Christian belief in the inspiration of Scripture and examine the implications of having the written declaration, captured in space and time, of an eternal God.
Taken together, the body of scholarship surrounding the study of the enigmatic focal point of the... more Taken together, the body of scholarship surrounding the study of the enigmatic focal point of the Christian faith forms a strong support for a living and active relationship with the God of the Bible. This essay will explore how the ancient Israelites understood their God, how the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth revolutionized the understanding of Yahweh, and how the Christian church, through great controversy, arrived at a modern understanding of the persons and work of the members of the Triune Godhead.
The Bible is a cornerstone supporting the entire interlocking discipline of systematic theology. ... more The Bible is a cornerstone supporting the entire interlocking discipline of systematic theology. The Scripture contains the self-revelation of God and the mosaic picture of his will for mankind. The biblical record serves as a foundation on which the Fathers built their understanding of the life that follows Jesus Christ. The Pentateuch, the Writings, and the Prophets, combined with the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus of Nazareth and the epistolary works of the early apostles, together form a sociological and theological architecture upon which an enduring life of faith can be reliably built. This architecture provides a frame for human to divine interaction as well as a backdrop for human to human relationships.
The theologian can confidently state not only that “for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then f... more The theologian can confidently state not only that “for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am known” (1 Cor. 13:12), but also: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). There is no contradiction here, the two verses simply articulate the intellectual tension caused by an expansive subject that must be approached in a systematic way. For the faithful, the theology revealed in the Bible is comprehensible and reasonable. It can be understood by a wide variety of people of varied intellectual backgrounds. To be grasped in its grandeur, Christian theology should be studied systematically.
The individuals who clarified, codified, and developed the theology and practices of the Christia... more The individuals who clarified, codified, and developed the theology and practices of the Christian faith on the basis of the events of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth dealt with the concrete reality of the real recollections of eyewitnesses. Their sources were real memories, but they detailed a profoundly metaphysical framework that shapes Christianity today. The four Evangelists, the apostle Paul, the Patristic Fathers, among many others, all had a strong part to play in the development of the faith system that defines the beliefs of a large proportion of the population of the world. This array of Christian philosophy is set against the modern secular worldview that Pascal described in “addressing himself to a typical ‘libertine’ of the day (i.e., one who considers himself emancipated from religious belief and religious norms of conduct), [He] describes this person as self-satisfied, engrossed in present pleasures, indifferent to all questions concerning God and the afterlife.”
Jesus taught Thomas, one of His disciples “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to... more Jesus taught Thomas, one of His disciples “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He also told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews “whoever believes in Him [the Christ] shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). In both of these instances, the Lord Jesus didn’t include any caveat or hint of an action that a person can do to earn salvation. Why then does the apostle James, Jesus’ earthly brother, make the bold statement “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:26) in his epistle to the Jews of the Diaspora? Does the Scripture contradict itself? This paper will examine the language of James chapter 2 and how it relates to the unified faith that both James and Jesus taught.
As he was preparing to return to heaven, Jesus told his disciples to “go therefore and make disci... more As he was preparing to return to heaven, Jesus told his disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus’ Great Commission to his disciples is just as living and vital to believers in 2019 as it was when he originally spoke it so long ago. This paper will examine the effect that two weeks in Rwanda had on an understanding of the vision and challenge of discipleship in this student’s context. It will seek to offer strategies for discipleship in a global context, examining the way that a strategy for Rwandan discipleship might differ from one that would be effective in the United States.
The events surrounding the Jewish feast of the Passover in the year AD 33 and the execution of a ... more The events surrounding the Jewish feast of the Passover in the year AD 33 and the execution of a certain notable Teacher were to change the course of human history forever. The rippling power of the circumstances of a single execution and its aftermath would carry His message to the corners of the globe and across millennia of time. The profound change that came over this Man’s disciples, the renewed energy and passion that they had for the revolutionary message that He had spread during three short years of active ministry, and the way that they claimed, even under torture and significant persecution, that He had risen bodily from the grave of crucifixion, is one of the great proofs of the veracity of their claims. The power and longevity of their message, that Jesus of Nazareth was who He said He was, that He rose from the grave and then ascended into heaven, and the way that the message catalyzed the profound spread of Christianity, can rightfully and accurately be described as miraculous. This paper will examine the nature of the spread of the Christian message and how it served as a catalyst for the worldwide faith that has developed to this day.
The Old Testament contains many of the most controversial miracles contained in the Bible. The bo... more The Old Testament contains many of the most controversial miracles contained in the Bible. The book of Genesis includes the record of God’s creation of the universe from nothingness and the record of Noah’s Flood. The book of Exodus records the Burning Bush narrative and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites. The books of the history of Israel contain the record of the shepherd boy David triumphing over the giant Goliath and the history of a man named Samson who was able to kill hundreds of people with his bare hands. The book of Jonah contains the fantastic record of a man that went alive into the belly of a great fish and emerged three days later a profoundly changed prophet. Although the biblical record is difficult at times to quantify and prove scientifically, its transcendent truth is found in the way that it speaks to human nature. This paper will explore the record of the life and ministry of the prophet Jonah which is contained in the short Old Testament narrative that bears his name.
The comprehensive perspective that naturalism provides through the strength of the scientific met... more The comprehensive perspective that naturalism provides through the strength of the scientific methods involved makes casual challenges from religion seem laughable and trite. Bush states “to affirm biblical creation is to challenge naturalistic presuppositions.” This research paper will explore the academic, scientific, and philosophical structures that undergird scientific naturalism and show that, although they are practically unassailable in their strength of method, where the various disciplines are deficient, they are fatally so, with gaps of evidence and leaps of logic that cannot be justified, leaving the Christian worldview as the only logical understanding of the natural world.
The science and technology that have developed in the modern world have grown up alongside a deep... more The science and technology that have developed in the modern world have grown up alongside a deepening and vital understanding of the Bible. The relationship has often been antagonistic, with science historically going far afield of the traditional Christian understanding of reality. This paper will examine the historical development of scientific understanding and show how it has interacted with significant thinkers in the Christian sphere along the way, ultimately showing that science and faith are not antagonistic, but complementary.
The intellect, the ability to reason and learn, is a receiver placed in humanity by God, original... more The intellect, the ability to reason and learn, is a receiver placed in humanity by God, originally meant to be in harmony with his Mind, able to listen for him and commune with him in Spirit and truth (John 4:24). It was this aspect of humanity that was irrevocably damaged by the actions of our first parents. The receiver remains, but in most people, it is turned off or hopelessly garbled by the cares and distractions of life (Mark 4:16-18).
Something profound happened to the individuals that were gathered at the beginning of Acts chapte... more Something profound happened to the individuals that were gathered at the beginning of Acts chapter two. Believing Jews, well versed in their traditions and the structure of the Mosaic covenant, had an encounter with the Paraclete that Jesus had predicted. Speaking to his disciples, he had said “and I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another helper, that he may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth…for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). The encounter they had with the living power of God fundamentally changed their paradigm for relationship with Yahweh. It changed from a structure of feasts, sacrifice, and ritual required under the Mosaic covenant to a relationship of indwelt newness of life empowered by the Holy Spirit. This paper will examine the events of Acts 2 in light of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit and the promises from the Old Testament prophets. Prophesies from Jeremiah “after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be my God and they will be my people” (Jer. 31:33) and Joel “and it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28) speak directly to the events that happened in Jerusalem during the harvest feast. This paper will also examine the temporary indwelling of Old Testament saints, such as Joshua, David, and Samson, by the Holy Spirit and how it relates to the events of Pentecost. The Spirit fell on the disciples gathered with one accord after the sound of a rushing mighty wind, but is that same fire burning in the church today?
The power of sin is very strong, causing a great struggle in the life of the New Testament believ... more The power of sin is very strong, causing a great struggle in the life of the New Testament believer. It is offset by the grace of God and because of this, the redeemed believer no long needs to fear the dread power of the Law. Sin’s price has been paid.
The Holy Spirit seems to shun many of the attributes that humans would choose and instead uses th... more The Holy Spirit seems to shun many of the attributes that humans would choose and instead uses the coarse things of the world to accomplish his ends. The Scripture declares “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:27) . One such enigmatic and misunderstood character is John, the son of Zechariah, the prophet referred to as the Baptist. He was the “voice of one crying in the wilderness” but did he recognize the One who was to come, or did he face martyrdom disappointed with a hope unfulfilled?
This study will define the doctrine of divine inspiration, what it is held to be in the historic ... more This study will define the doctrine of divine inspiration, what it is held to be in the historic understanding of the church, citing the views and perspectives of some of the theologians of the past. Olbricht states “the most correct view of biblical inspiration is that which is most biblical in respect to accounting for internal evidence as to the Bible’s origin.” It will look at how the church understands the doctrine of inspiration and explain why the subject is so critical to the ongoing life of the believer in the modern world. This will be accomplished in two ways: first by a description of what the Bible itself teaches about the subject and secondly by a survey of various ways that the doctrine of inspiration has been understood and often misunderstood and what the consequences of erroneous beliefs might be.
The concept of the grace of God can be a difficult one to accept, especially in the presence of t... more The concept of the grace of God can be a difficult one to accept, especially in the presence of the great evil that is sometimes a reality in life. Mercy can seem significantly out of place. Nevertheless, divine grace informs the actuality of life, providing a coherence and structure that reflects a merciful Deity.
A realistic and humble understanding of the relationship with an ultimate benefactor keeps perspe... more A realistic and humble understanding of the relationship with an ultimate benefactor keeps perspective sharp. The Psalmist sang: “enter into His [Yahweh’s] gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name” (Ps. 100:4). Genuine thankfulness cements appropriate behavior in connection with those to whom gratitude is owed. With the Christian’s deep indebtedness to Jesus Christ, true and heartfelt thankfulness should be a hallmark of the life of every believer.
The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed t... more The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed the expressed word of the living God of Christianity, then its pronouncements are a normative standard. If the Bible is found to be nothing more than the musings of flawed humanity, then the structure of Christian belief is no more authoritative than the drivel written in a cookie from the local noodle house. This essay will articulate the Christian belief in the inspiration of Scripture and examine the implications of having the written declaration, captured in space and time, of an eternal God.
The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed t... more The question of the veracity of the biblical record is an important one. If the Bible is indeed the expressed word of the living God of Christianity, then its pronouncements are a normative standard. If the Bible is found to be nothing more than the musings of flawed humanity, then the structure of Christian belief is no more authoritative than the drivel written in a cookie from the local noodle house. This essay will articulate the Christian belief in the inspiration of Scripture and examine the implications of having the written declaration, captured in space and time, of an eternal God.
Taken together, the body of scholarship surrounding the study of the enigmatic focal point of the... more Taken together, the body of scholarship surrounding the study of the enigmatic focal point of the Christian faith forms a strong support for a living and active relationship with the God of the Bible. This essay will explore how the ancient Israelites understood their God, how the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth revolutionized the understanding of Yahweh, and how the Christian church, through great controversy, arrived at a modern understanding of the persons and work of the members of the Triune Godhead.
The Bible is a cornerstone supporting the entire interlocking discipline of systematic theology. ... more The Bible is a cornerstone supporting the entire interlocking discipline of systematic theology. The Scripture contains the self-revelation of God and the mosaic picture of his will for mankind. The biblical record serves as a foundation on which the Fathers built their understanding of the life that follows Jesus Christ. The Pentateuch, the Writings, and the Prophets, combined with the gospel accounts of the life of Jesus of Nazareth and the epistolary works of the early apostles, together form a sociological and theological architecture upon which an enduring life of faith can be reliably built. This architecture provides a frame for human to divine interaction as well as a backdrop for human to human relationships.
The theologian can confidently state not only that “for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then f... more The theologian can confidently state not only that “for now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I am known” (1 Cor. 13:12), but also: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105). There is no contradiction here, the two verses simply articulate the intellectual tension caused by an expansive subject that must be approached in a systematic way. For the faithful, the theology revealed in the Bible is comprehensible and reasonable. It can be understood by a wide variety of people of varied intellectual backgrounds. To be grasped in its grandeur, Christian theology should be studied systematically.
The individuals who clarified, codified, and developed the theology and practices of the Christia... more The individuals who clarified, codified, and developed the theology and practices of the Christian faith on the basis of the events of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth dealt with the concrete reality of the real recollections of eyewitnesses. Their sources were real memories, but they detailed a profoundly metaphysical framework that shapes Christianity today. The four Evangelists, the apostle Paul, the Patristic Fathers, among many others, all had a strong part to play in the development of the faith system that defines the beliefs of a large proportion of the population of the world. This array of Christian philosophy is set against the modern secular worldview that Pascal described in “addressing himself to a typical ‘libertine’ of the day (i.e., one who considers himself emancipated from religious belief and religious norms of conduct), [He] describes this person as self-satisfied, engrossed in present pleasures, indifferent to all questions concerning God and the afterlife.”
Jesus taught Thomas, one of His disciples “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to... more Jesus taught Thomas, one of His disciples “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). He also told Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews “whoever believes in Him [the Christ] shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). In both of these instances, the Lord Jesus didn’t include any caveat or hint of an action that a person can do to earn salvation. Why then does the apostle James, Jesus’ earthly brother, make the bold statement “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:26) in his epistle to the Jews of the Diaspora? Does the Scripture contradict itself? This paper will examine the language of James chapter 2 and how it relates to the unified faith that both James and Jesus taught.
As he was preparing to return to heaven, Jesus told his disciples to “go therefore and make disci... more As he was preparing to return to heaven, Jesus told his disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus’ Great Commission to his disciples is just as living and vital to believers in 2019 as it was when he originally spoke it so long ago. This paper will examine the effect that two weeks in Rwanda had on an understanding of the vision and challenge of discipleship in this student’s context. It will seek to offer strategies for discipleship in a global context, examining the way that a strategy for Rwandan discipleship might differ from one that would be effective in the United States.
The events surrounding the Jewish feast of the Passover in the year AD 33 and the execution of a ... more The events surrounding the Jewish feast of the Passover in the year AD 33 and the execution of a certain notable Teacher were to change the course of human history forever. The rippling power of the circumstances of a single execution and its aftermath would carry His message to the corners of the globe and across millennia of time. The profound change that came over this Man’s disciples, the renewed energy and passion that they had for the revolutionary message that He had spread during three short years of active ministry, and the way that they claimed, even under torture and significant persecution, that He had risen bodily from the grave of crucifixion, is one of the great proofs of the veracity of their claims. The power and longevity of their message, that Jesus of Nazareth was who He said He was, that He rose from the grave and then ascended into heaven, and the way that the message catalyzed the profound spread of Christianity, can rightfully and accurately be described as miraculous. This paper will examine the nature of the spread of the Christian message and how it served as a catalyst for the worldwide faith that has developed to this day.
The Old Testament contains many of the most controversial miracles contained in the Bible. The bo... more The Old Testament contains many of the most controversial miracles contained in the Bible. The book of Genesis includes the record of God’s creation of the universe from nothingness and the record of Noah’s Flood. The book of Exodus records the Burning Bush narrative and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites. The books of the history of Israel contain the record of the shepherd boy David triumphing over the giant Goliath and the history of a man named Samson who was able to kill hundreds of people with his bare hands. The book of Jonah contains the fantastic record of a man that went alive into the belly of a great fish and emerged three days later a profoundly changed prophet. Although the biblical record is difficult at times to quantify and prove scientifically, its transcendent truth is found in the way that it speaks to human nature. This paper will explore the record of the life and ministry of the prophet Jonah which is contained in the short Old Testament narrative that bears his name.
The comprehensive perspective that naturalism provides through the strength of the scientific met... more The comprehensive perspective that naturalism provides through the strength of the scientific methods involved makes casual challenges from religion seem laughable and trite. Bush states “to affirm biblical creation is to challenge naturalistic presuppositions.” This research paper will explore the academic, scientific, and philosophical structures that undergird scientific naturalism and show that, although they are practically unassailable in their strength of method, where the various disciplines are deficient, they are fatally so, with gaps of evidence and leaps of logic that cannot be justified, leaving the Christian worldview as the only logical understanding of the natural world.
The science and technology that have developed in the modern world have grown up alongside a deep... more The science and technology that have developed in the modern world have grown up alongside a deepening and vital understanding of the Bible. The relationship has often been antagonistic, with science historically going far afield of the traditional Christian understanding of reality. This paper will examine the historical development of scientific understanding and show how it has interacted with significant thinkers in the Christian sphere along the way, ultimately showing that science and faith are not antagonistic, but complementary.
The intellect, the ability to reason and learn, is a receiver placed in humanity by God, original... more The intellect, the ability to reason and learn, is a receiver placed in humanity by God, originally meant to be in harmony with his Mind, able to listen for him and commune with him in Spirit and truth (John 4:24). It was this aspect of humanity that was irrevocably damaged by the actions of our first parents. The receiver remains, but in most people, it is turned off or hopelessly garbled by the cares and distractions of life (Mark 4:16-18).
Something profound happened to the individuals that were gathered at the beginning of Acts chapte... more Something profound happened to the individuals that were gathered at the beginning of Acts chapter two. Believing Jews, well versed in their traditions and the structure of the Mosaic covenant, had an encounter with the Paraclete that Jesus had predicted. Speaking to his disciples, he had said “and I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another helper, that he may abide with you forever-the Spirit of truth…for he dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17). The encounter they had with the living power of God fundamentally changed their paradigm for relationship with Yahweh. It changed from a structure of feasts, sacrifice, and ritual required under the Mosaic covenant to a relationship of indwelt newness of life empowered by the Holy Spirit. This paper will examine the events of Acts 2 in light of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit and the promises from the Old Testament prophets. Prophesies from Jeremiah “after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be my God and they will be my people” (Jer. 31:33) and Joel “and it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28) speak directly to the events that happened in Jerusalem during the harvest feast. This paper will also examine the temporary indwelling of Old Testament saints, such as Joshua, David, and Samson, by the Holy Spirit and how it relates to the events of Pentecost. The Spirit fell on the disciples gathered with one accord after the sound of a rushing mighty wind, but is that same fire burning in the church today?
The power of sin is very strong, causing a great struggle in the life of the New Testament believ... more The power of sin is very strong, causing a great struggle in the life of the New Testament believer. It is offset by the grace of God and because of this, the redeemed believer no long needs to fear the dread power of the Law. Sin’s price has been paid.
The Holy Spirit seems to shun many of the attributes that humans would choose and instead uses th... more The Holy Spirit seems to shun many of the attributes that humans would choose and instead uses the coarse things of the world to accomplish his ends. The Scripture declares “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty” (1 Cor. 1:27) . One such enigmatic and misunderstood character is John, the son of Zechariah, the prophet referred to as the Baptist. He was the “voice of one crying in the wilderness” but did he recognize the One who was to come, or did he face martyrdom disappointed with a hope unfulfilled?
This study will define the doctrine of divine inspiration, what it is held to be in the historic ... more This study will define the doctrine of divine inspiration, what it is held to be in the historic understanding of the church, citing the views and perspectives of some of the theologians of the past. Olbricht states “the most correct view of biblical inspiration is that which is most biblical in respect to accounting for internal evidence as to the Bible’s origin.” It will look at how the church understands the doctrine of inspiration and explain why the subject is so critical to the ongoing life of the believer in the modern world. This will be accomplished in two ways: first by a description of what the Bible itself teaches about the subject and secondly by a survey of various ways that the doctrine of inspiration has been understood and often misunderstood and what the consequences of erroneous beliefs might be.
Supercharging the impact of His teaching, Jesus’ use of the shep-herd takes a common reality in t... more Supercharging the impact of His teaching, Jesus’ use of the shep-herd takes a common reality in the first century and imbues it with strong spiritual significance. Thomas Aquinas wrote about the analo-gies in Scripture: “It is also befitting Holy Writ, which is proposed to all without distinction of person, that spiritual truths be expounded by means of figures taken from corporeal things, in order that thereby even the simple who are unable by themselves to grasp intellectual things may be able to understand it.” The shepherd and sheep motifs were not only meaningful for Jesus’ audience, but the motif is easily understandable for the twenty-first century Christian. The tools and word pictures used by Christ during His ministry, building on the ancient contextual frame of the Israelites, have come down to the modern reader in a transcendent way. Christ’s words beau-tifully illustrate the Good Shepherd’s tender and divine care for His flock. The wayward child, the rebellious and hurting modern adult, and the stranger to Christianity alike, can find in the story of the Lost Sheep and the Savior a profound balm for the soul.
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Papers by Mark Baham
The tools and word pictures used by Christ during His ministry, building on the ancient contextual frame of the Israelites, have come down to the modern reader in a transcendent way. Christ’s words beau-tifully illustrate the Good Shepherd’s tender and divine care for His flock. The wayward child, the rebellious and hurting modern adult, and the stranger to Christianity alike, can find in the story of the Lost Sheep and the Savior a profound balm for the soul.