The Lamb and The Shepherd
In Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s talk "Good Shepherd, Lamb of God," he opens by saying- “who better to succor each precious lamb than the Good Shepherd, and who better to be our Good Shepherd than the Lamb of God?”
In Psalm 86:1-3, David cries out to the Lord, saying, "Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. […] Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily." I’m sure many of us have felt like this, like we have fallen below some imaginary line that qualifies us for mercy, and now we need to beg for forgiveness.
Mercy, defined as compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm, stands in stark contrast to the law of justice. While justice demands retribution for wrongdoing, mercy offers forgiveness and understanding. The law of justice requires a perfect balance between our actions and their consequences. Each of us falls short of this standard, for “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Left to our own devices, we would be forever separated from God, unable to return to His presence because of our imperfections. However, because of His love for us, these two principles are brought together through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
We often talk of Jesus as the Lamb of God, but where does it come from?
Egypt had just been devastated by a series of nine plagues. The final plague was different. God was going to strike down all the firstborn in Egypt, including the firstborn of Israel.
On that first Passover, God devised a way in which he could be both just and merciful at the same time. God’s provision was simple: kill a lamb on the night the angel of death kills the firstborn. Apply its blood to your doorposts, and when God sees the blood, he will pass over you (Exodus 12). God spared Israel’s sons, not because they were better than Egypt’s sons, but because a spotless lamb died in their place and its blood covered their door.
Christ died for us and became the sacrificial Lamb, and throughout his whole earthly life he also was, and taught us how to be, a Good Shepherd.
In these two quotes from Elder David A. Bednar we read: "In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice.” “The infinite Atonement is for both the sinner and for the saint in each of us."
Despite our imperfections, we can rely on the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ to help us in our efforts to live righteously. Throughout His ministry, Jesus exemplified this divine attribute in His interactions with individuals from all walks of life. He extended mercy to the downtrodden, the marginalised, and the heartbroken, teaching us by His example to love one another and to show kindness and understanding.
The mercy of Jesus Christ extends beyond forgiveness; it offers us the opportunity for healing, growth, and transformation. Through His grace, we are empowered to overcome our weaknesses and become more like Him. As the Apostle Paul declared, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). It is through His mercy that we find the courage to repent, to change, and to become better.
Let us remember that the mercy of Jesus Christ is not limited by time or circumstance. It is available to each of us, regardless of our past mistakes or current struggles. He is our Shepherd, leading and teaching us by example and loving corrections. He is the Lamb who, because of the sacrifice he made, made it possible for us to return to our loving and just Heavenly Father.