The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-07-10
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS.
BY REV, y. b, HARGRRAVEs
LESSON . July II.
JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
John 10, lis. Golden Text, John
10, IL. Time, October, A. d. %.
Place, Jerusalem.
The man whose sight had been re-
stored had another interview with
Jesus, and had become His willing
disciple. A crowd gathered round
and listened to the conversation.
Some Rabbis were there, as usual,
ready to find fault with His teachings
and acts, and report them to the
councils.
Jesus told them the parable of the
good shepherd, using very familiar
illustration to convey the most i'm
portant truths. His audience must
have been we'll acquainted with the
facts of the illustration, and ought to
have understood its application more
fully than they did.
In Oriental countries the shepherd
sustains close relation to his flock.
| The same is true of the mountainous
districts in the north of England and
Scotland. Isolation, privation, dam
gers endured and happiness enjoyed
in common bind the shepherd closely
to his sheep.
At night it was the custom to take
his flock to the common fold and there
leaYe it in charge of the porter, who
with his dog would guard the entrance.
Several hocks would be in the same
enclosure, or fold, at the same time
The door shut and guarded, the sheep
were safe from the attacks of wolves
and the depredations of robbers.
In the morning the shepherds
knock at the door, the porter opens it,
and they 90 in and call their focks.
The shepherd knows each indiyi-
dual sheep of his flock and each sheep
knows his voice When he calls the
sheep Immediately follow him. But
if a stranger calls them, even by name
they look up in alarm and run away.
During the day the shepherd leads
his flock into green pastures and be-
side cooling streams, they gladly fol-
lowing where he leads.
What beautiful picture our Saw
Tor here presents Of Himself and His
church. He represents Himself as
the true door, through which all must
pass who would enter His kingdom.
There is no other way except by
Christ Then He represents Himself
as the Good Shepherd who knows His
people and who leads them into paths
Of pleasantness and peace.
The "other sheep" to which He re-
ferred were the Gentiles; and the
false shepherds were the false teachers,
especially the Rabbis, the Pharisees,
and the priests. Jesus tells them that
as a good shepherd He will not only
provide His followers with secure
fold; not only protect them from
thieves, robbers and wild animals; not
only lead them into green pastures
and beside still waters" but He will
also lay down His life for them. He
thus teaches still more clealy than
eyer before, that the Gentiles should
have part in His new kingdom, and
also that He Himself should Gull
inmate His life work on the Cross.
Not by force, but voluntarily. He is
the author and giver of life. He
could haye saved Himself; but of his
own accord, voluntarily, He laid down
His life for the sheep.
LESSON THOUGHTS.
/, Christ is the Shepherd. Let US
follow Him.
2. Christ used illustrations which
were easily understood.
3, Christ knows each follower by
name, and takes an individual interest
in ecch one.
Christ is the door. Enter while
yor may.