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lambIt is a common practice on the farm, that when any newborn animal, such as a calf, lamb, or piglet is orphaned at birth, the job of the farmer is to find a new mother for the baby or it will die. Often a new mother is found who has lost her own young offspring. Seems like a perfect match, right? It might be a perfect match, but it isn’t that easy. The new mother would probably reject the lamb because by smell, the mother can tell it is not her own. What is often done, then, is to take part of the dead lamb’s hide and cover the orphaned lamb with that hide. The mother then holds the lamb at bay until she sniffs it well. Finally, satisfied with her nose inspection, she lets the lamb feed. The covering provided by the shepherd (farmer) was of her essence, and she accepted it. Had it not been of her essence, she would have rejected it.

Even as a small child, I was in awe of this process, amazed the mother knew her own. As I got older, this process reminded me of something else – life given to one through the death of another. Eternal life given to us through the death of “The Lamb,” The Shepherd provided the acceptable covering for us sinners. As the Lamb of God, Jesus provided us with the acceptable covering. Through Jesus’ death we live. Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb we are covered by His righteousness. When God, our Father, looks upon us, He sees the sacrifice of the Lamb to pay for our sins, and accepts us. We are covered! What comfort!