The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-18
Sunday School Lesson for March 49,
Christ, the Good Shepherd.
JOHN x: lilo.
BY j. e. GILBERT, d. d. IL. d.
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

CONTENT. - Upon receiving his
sight, the man born blind, of whom
we studied last week. became be-
lever in Jesus. as did also his rela-
tives Gx:22-3S), while the Pharisees
were stirred up to still greater hostil-
ity. The former argued that one who
could work n miracle must be of God,
but the latter urged that one who broke
the Sabbath TO work a miracle must be
a sinner 0X:l6). The two parties were
widely separated--the one holding to
the evidence of supernatural power the
other bound by leagalism. In the al
tercation that followed Jesus declared
His mission Gx:39), in which He recog-
nized the two classes. Today's lesson
is an appropriate and important con-
tinuation of His thought. Under most
beautiful figure our Lord announces
that He will soon establish His church,
composed of all who hear His callg
whether Jews or Gentlles. and He pre-
sents Himself as the rightful head Of
that church. in contrast with all false
teachers.
ENTERING.-The sheep-fold is a
place of security for flocks at night.
AS usually constructed in oriental
countries, it consists of low fiat
building, erected on the sheltered side
of valley and enclosed by a wide
stone wall. A single door or gate fur
nished the entrance to the fold through
which the shepherd might lead His
flock at the close of the day. No one
except thief or robber would attempt
to enter by climbing the wall, mas
much as this door was ample for all
worthy purposes, designed to keep out
only those who were not entitled to
admission our Lord makes these state
ments Oversees l and p for the purpose
of explaining the church-the Jewish
congregation and the assembly of New
Testament believers. That church is
intended to protect it's members against
the evil that is in the world, to give
them shelter and comfort in times of
trouble. Into it there is but one true
mode of admittance.
The sheep do not re-
main constantly within the fold AS
there Is right way of entering, to-
ward the evening, so there is a right
way Of going forth in the morning. The
shepherd who left his flock in safe
keeping for the night returns. He is
recognized by the porter who opens the
door Then the shepherd calls his own
sheep by name, without even entering,
and each one, recognizing the voice,
responds and passes out However
many flocks there may be in the in
closure, and however freely thev may
mingle together, those only who belong
to him will appear. Having thus
brought them into the open field, the
shepherd does not drive or even urge
he has only to move quietly on, and
the flock will follow (verse ~. There Is
not the slightest danger of deception or
mistake in all this. The sheep will not
follow a stranger, but will flee from
him affrighted (verse 81. The porter
need therefore give himself no concern
on the subject. He simply opens the
door and allows those to go who are
minded to do so assured that none but
the right sheep will depart. All this
was very familiar to Christ's hearers
they had many times witnessed such
occurrences.
EXPLAIN1NG.-Wh Jesus said in
this parable was plain enough, but
what He intended to teach, what les
ers knew (verse 81. That was not sur
prising. Indeed, it was His plan to
awaken curiosity first by reciting some
thing very familiar and then to ex-
plain and apply, concealing the sense
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
" announce that they nra candidates for