To Encourage You

John 10:11 “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Yesterday I was listening to a message by Alistair Begg.  I caught just the tail end of what he said, but I was blessed by it.  Interesting how just a few words from a godly man can do that for you.  The words he shared were from a very unlikely source, i.e., the lyrics from the Simon and Garfunkel song “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” Listen to what this song says, particularly the first couple verses:

“When you’re weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I’ll dry them all
I’m on your side
Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you’re down and out
When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I’ll take your part
Oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down”

I don’t have any idea what either Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel believe. I don’t know who they might have been referring to with the words they wrote.  Maybe they were talking about themselves and their commitment to some friend. Maybe they were talking about one of THEIR friends who had shown some wonderful allegiance to them.  But as Alistair shared these words, his thoughts turned to Jesus, our greatest friend, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.  Maybe you should read the words of this song again and think of how wonderfully they point to this greatest friend. No friend on earth can comfort us like Him. And no other person who ever lived provided such a bridge over troubled waters as the cross of Jesus which bridged the yawning gap from earth to God.