The ninety and nine in the fold safely lay <br />But this one sheep had foolishly gone astray <br />And as he lay bleating all lost and afraid <br />The Good Shepherd heard his cry and came to his aid <br /> <br />All through the wilderness the Good Shepherd went <br />To seek and save the lost sheep was His intent <br />Fierce ravening wolves pursued Him all the way <br />and the thorns tore His flesh throughout that day. <br /> <br />All through the night he toiled and did not sleep <br />For he was determined to rescue and save His lost sheep <br />Even though in Gethsemane drops of blood He sweat <br />He would not be dissuaded from the pathway set <br /> <br />And when He came to Golgotha's steep Hill <br />He did not hesitate but He carried on still <br />Onward and upward He went to be crucified <br />And there on the cross for His sheep He died <br /> <br />Stricken and smitten of God was He <br />And by His stripes I have been set free <br />The price of my sins by His blood he paid <br />And all my iniquity upon Him was laid <br /> <br />The Bulls of Bashan tore at His side <br />And the gates of death were opened wide <br />He entered Death and Hades to pay the price <br />Offering His body as the perfect sacrifice <br /> <br />Deep wounds in His hands and feet he bore <br />Head torn by the crown of thorns He wore <br />Alone He suffered thirsty and bleeding <br />As there for His sheep He was interceding <br /> <br />Lesser shepherds and hireling would have fled <br />But He stood firm and for His sheep He bled <br />Enduring such suffering in order to save <br />This poor lost sheep from Hell and the grave <br /> <br />He lifted me out of the miry clay <br />and upon His shoulders I gently lay <br />Brought me into the security of the pen <br />right through the vale of death to heaven. <br /> <br />(additional background information is provided in the Poem's story box below)<br /><br />Roy Allen<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/today-the-good-shepherd/
