 Jesus ‘The Good Shepherd’ at the centre of His flock John 19:16-18We were introduced a few years ago to a wonderful song, written by an English songwriter, Michael Frye. The words (see note 1 below) share the personal experience of making Jesus the centre of our lives. The word ‘centre’ appears 6 times in the New King James Version of the Bible — once in the Book of Judges; 4 times in Ezekiel 48, and once in John 19, making that the only mention in the New Testament. Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the centre. “Jesus, be the centre.” That is the message. He has to be the centre of our lives if we are to find ourselves in the right place. What did He say on the Cross? Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” [Luke 23:39-43 NKJV] It is not John (who was there) who reports this, but Luke. John, as an eyewitness says that Jesus seeks that John look after Mary, Jesus’ mother. Luke reports that Jesus ministers to the thieves on either side of Him, condemned also. In both circumstances, Jesus is the centre of events. That, assuredly, is the case elsewhere and everywhere. Matthew writes “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” [Matthew 18:20 NKJV], and it matters not what our sin has been, if we acknowledge Him as the centre, He will be with us, and we shall be with Him, today — now — in Paradise. Let Jesus be your centre. Note 1: Jesus, be the centre Be my source, be my light Jesus Jesus, be the centre Be my hope, be my song Jesus Be the fire in my heart Be the wind in these sails Be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus Jesus, be my vision Be my path, be my guide Jesus Be the fire in my heart Be the wind in these sails Be the reason that I live Jesus, Jesus Jesus, be the centre Be my source, be my light Jesus Be my source, be my light Jesus  The marvellous, uncrushable characteristic of a saint is that he does discern God. You may put a saint in tribulation, amid an onslaught of principalities and powers, in peril, pestilence or under the sword, you may put a saint anywhere you like, and he is ‘more than conqueror’ every time. Why? Because his heart being filled with the love of God, he has the power to perceive and understand that behind all these things is God making them ‘work together for good’. [from ‘Biblical Psychology’]  
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