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3 Stories Of Salvation A Booklet The first of these stories is 'The Good Shepherd' which draws its starting point from the first of the three 'lost' parables in Luke 15. Jesus gave this parable to a multitude of people during the three and a half years of his ministry on earth. It portrays himself as the compassionate and patient shepherd who had come to save the human race from the position they had lived in since they rebelled in the garden of Eden. This booklet expands on the picture of a shepherd in those times. This shepherd would give his life for the sheep at the end of his three and a half year ministry and now there are many already in the fold because of his message during this Christian era. But there are many more not in the sheep pen and those he must also bring into that fold in the dispensation of the fullness of times. (Isa.40.10‑11). Nicodemus is the focus for the second tale of salvation. He was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, an educated man of status. He came to Jesus alone at night and at first anxious not to be seen in the same place as the 'saviour of the world', he had no doubt been astonished by Jesus' teaching and miracles therefore, wanting to know 'how to be saved'. He needed to be saved as much as any other at that time. As Jesus' ministry on earth began to close, to him was given the special task of putting the early remains of the saviour's body into a tomb. Belief in the saviour, the son of God would be expanded upon after Pentecost for a way to be saved was new in those days and Nicodemus was one of the first to hear the message and many more individuals will as they rise from their tombs. The last in this trilogy of stories features someone quite different. It centres on a woman on her own outside of the commonwealth of God at that time, an outcast even within her own people. She and Jesus were alone at Jacob's well in Shechem in what was then called Samaria. Both were thirsty and in need of water, she was refreshed not by H2O but by Jesus' message of the living waters. This booklet expands on him, her and the picture of water. In her way, she pictures all gentiles and all who are selfish, who have found an oasis in a desert land having come to Jesus, their personal saviour. The third story leaves us with the kingdom hope that all will take of the water of life freely. (Isa.55.1, Rev.22.17).
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