The author of Hebrews concludes his letter with a blessing from “Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep.” Pastoral images abound in this morning’s service: readings from Psalm 23 and Micah 5 describe Christ as our shepherd, along with the hymns Jesus, Shepherd Of Thy People, How Sweet The Name Of Jesus Sounds, and O Thou In Whose Presence. As we sing All People That On Earth Do Dwell (Psalm 100) and Hear Me, All You People (Psalm 49), we give thanks that the Lord takes us as His own sheep and we are warned that those who trust in earthly riches and wisdom will find that death is their shepherd. The service concludes with a string of hymns that attempt to capture the central theme of the book of Hebrews. Give Me Jesus, My Jesus, I Love Thee, Jesus Shall Reign, and O Christ, Our Hope all proclaim the message that our pastors have emphasized to us so many times these past nine months—”Jesus is better.”
—Henry C. Haffner