"...Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter." (Mark 1:45 ESV)
Ah, the desolate places. As the prideful and arrogant person that I tend to be, I often find myself in desolate places. Pride and arrogance tend to separate one from other people. More importantly, they are characteristics that separate us from God. It is interesting to me, although not surprising, that when I am find myself in a desolate place I also find Jesus. Or, I should say, I find new revelations of Jesus. When we look, we will always find Christ in our desolation.
Did you notice my pride slipping through again? In actuality, Jesus finds me in those bleak places. He is the good shepherd. He watches His flock closely, and protects them fiercely. When a rebellious sheep, much like myself, wanders from the safety of the flock, he searches for it....He searches for it, gently picks it up and carries it back to where it belongs.
Every time my shepherd picks me up and brings me back, I see him in a different light. I experience his character in a deeper and more full way. In the desolation of the wilderness I always comprehend the Shepherd in ways I never have before. Shades of him that were blurred become clear. It's not that I recommend the desolate places, and I wish I possessed the wisdom and discipline to avoid them, but I do praise the Shepherd for his faithfulness to his own. In the end, I am nothing more than a stupid sheep trusting in a diligent, loving Shepherd
The wilderness wanderings have produced in me a new appreciation for the words, "no one." It is clear to me that when Jesus Christ says, "no one", he means "no one."
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:27-28 NASV)
Once I chose, by an act of grace of the Shepherd, to follow him, I became one of those that cannot be snatched out of his hand. I don't understand it completely, for such comprehension is beyond a rebellious little sheep's capacity. But the Word of God combined with decades of experience convince me of this truth. No one can snatch them out of his hand.
I am certain that as, over the years, fellow sheep have looked up to see the Shepherd, once again, carrying me from the barren lands of desolation back to the flock, some have shaken their heads in disgust. Others, I am sure, have puffed out their woolly little chests in pride that they have remained safely in the fold of the flock. Many would just stare at the little plot of land beneath their nose, refusing to acknowledge the return of the one who hand wandered from the fold. There were some that stared in disdain and wondered why the Shepherd wastes his time on such a worthless, straying animal. I cannot speak for the Shepherd, but if asked, I believe his short answer would be, "Because he's one of mine." And, while I'm not proud of my times in the desolate places, I am fairly certain that I have a better comprehension of the depth of the words "no one" than much of the rest of the flock.
