The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-03-16
CHRIST TIE GOOD SHEPHERD
Aunday school Lesson In the Intee.
national Series for March 10,
lsDO-JOhn 1O,l-1O.

GOLDEN TEXT am the good shep-
herd: the good shepherd givsth His life for
His sheep.-John l0:ll.
Ter.
PLACE.-In or near Jerusalem.
THE LESSON.
/. "verily. verify" Jesus is speak
ing. perhaps in continuation and en-
phasis Of what He had just said, with
great solemnity. ''Sheepfold:" Orient
al sheepfolds, for the protection OF the
flocks at night. have usually one door
set in the strong walls Of the fold.
Thief and robber:" A robber Is the
more desperate character. The thief
steals; the robber uses violence as we'll
as steals.
2. shepherd: One Of the shep-
herds. There may be several focks
in one fold. This is q reference to the
figure and not yet to the truth Illus
trated.
3. "The porter:'" The undershepherd
who has charge of the door and stays
all night with the several hocks in the
fold. 1t is not certain that Jesus in
tended the porter to represent anyone
in the Christian church, but this term
may have been used simply to COM
plete the description Of the oriental
fold and manner of usingit. Hear His
voice." In the east the sheep are led.
not driven. and they obey the call Of
the shepherd as dogs obey their mas
ter in this land "By name:" A refer
ence to another eastern custom, that Of
naming the sheep as we do dogs and
horses.
5. "A stranger will they net follow"
Sheep have no curiosity to follow when
they have no knowledge Of the leader.
Twill fees" Fearing danger.
6. '"They understood not:" 1t was
not easy to understand, but they were
often puzzled because they were slow
to see spiritual things.
1 7. "Then said Jesus unto them
again:" Jesus repeated, with less OF
the fgurative in His expressions. the
statement that had puzzled them. III
am the door" Through which the
sheep pass to safety. To Thomas He
said afterwards: 81 am the way"
8. "All thieves and rob-
bers:" The blind leaders Sf the blind;
the false teachers; the proselytizers;
the men who refused to enter the king
dom themselves and hindered those
who would enter; those who even then
were seeking to destroy the Door, Jesus
Christ. The reference, Of course, is
not to the godly teachers Of the past.
THE sheep did not hear them:" But
the goats did. for they had followers.
o. shall be saved" An oriental
turn Of expression. Probably the sal
vation referred to here was not for
the shepherd. but for the sheep, though
Il may be that both are included. "Find
pasture:" It was the shepherds busi-
ness to find pasture for the flock. but
perhaps the flock 10 referred to as
above.
10. "rhe thief L." Christ
contrasts Himself with the ravening
wolves in sleeps clothing. the destroy
. ers whom He would resist and outwit
that He might save the flock. might
have life:" To give life was His great
desire.
II. "Good shepherd" Wise. faithful,
!. alert, self-sacrifcing, loving. "Giveth
His life:" The eastern shepherd might
need to risk his life to defend the flock
Jesus offers His life for the flock, lays
IL down in payment for their safety.
!, 10. ''Ths wolff" Any destroyer
whether error. person or power.
13. Because He is an hireling:'
Jesus further emphasizes the difference
between Himself and the various
teachers who served only for gain
"Know am known:" As the
, shepherd knew the sheep and the sheer
! the shepherd. The measure OF this
knowledge is stated in the opening SEN
: tence Of Verse Is.
Is. "I lay down my life:" Solemn
: repetition.
16. "Other sheep have:" Gentiles
Jesus thought goes beyond the Jews
"One fold, one shepherd" In Il. ";
= '.They shall become one flock" To thi'
D end Jesus worked and still works.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
Christ loves US as individuals, no
merely as part Of humanity. No ont
: but Divine Saviour, omniscient ant
omnipresent, could know all His dis
ciples by name and be present every
where to hear their prayers and gran
them aid.
We have before US a picture OF tn
n Good Shepherd. that we may see VIII!
!. we should accept, love and obey Hin
!. as the Shepherd Of our souls; and pic
ture Of the flock. that we may see hov
!, we should act towards the Good Shep
d herd.
v Jesus knows each individuals want
A nature and circumstances, SO that H
Il ministers TO each exactly what he re
o quires.
II Honey from the Rock.
True love Is always liberal.
u Hope IL a tonic for patience.