The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-15
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MARCH io.

Lesson Text: "Christ tho Good Shepherd"
John T., 1-16-Golden Text: John 4,
11-Commentary on tho Days Lesson
by tho Rev. d. M. Stearns.
/. The misconduct OF the scribes and
Pharisees, who ought to have been the
faithful shepherds otthe people, brings to
mind the words by the prophets, notably in
Jer. xiii. and Eek. xIxiv. Unfaithfulness
and unbelief seem to prevail In all ages in
the protesting people Of God. BY the gate
of Eden, with its sword and sacrifice; by
the gate and door and veil OF the tabsr-
nacle He taught the people the only way
OF access to Himself. He now reminds
invented by those who would rob God OF
His honor.
2. The true shepherd accepts Gods way
and knows no otter. Like Noah build
ing the ark or Moses the tabernacle, he
has no suggestions to make, but simply
obeys God implicitly. He does not ap-
point himself to oAace, but God calls him
and appoints him. as He did Moses and
Joshua and Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and
Ezekiel. the apostles and oil who are will
ing to be wholly subject to Him.
one In authority, and He Is followed and
trusted. He said to Moses, Thou hast
found grace in My sight, and know thee
by name (Ex. 11xiii., ~. Through Isaiah
he said, Fear not, for have redeemed
thee, have called thee by thy name, thou
art mine Qsa. KILL, y.
T. & great many people who bear His
name and seem to be- doing His work do
not understand this, for they complain OF
not been able to accomplish what they
wish nor get where they desire to 20.
There must be a misunderstanding some
where, for when we follow whore He leads
all should be easy, and when He goes be-
fore He will not leave obstacles In the way
OF those whom He leads.
5. Sheep must be wiser than people, for,
while sheep will not follow 4 stranger,
many who call themselves Christians fol-
low those who do not follow Christ and
yet think they are in the right way. They
do not seem to know the difference be-
tween His voice and that Of strangers.
His word Is His voice. 1t Is true from the
beginning and forever settled in heaven
(Ps. cxi1., 89).
6. "They understood not" 1t seems
comparatively simple parable In the light
1t was all dark to them, for they were
more full OF tradition than Of His Word,
the Scriptures. It Is even 80 now, and Q
Bible studyto those unaccustomed to 1t Is
something very strange. How sadly He
says even to His disciples, Do ye not yet
understand How is 1t that ye do not
understand (Math. xvi, 9, 1D.
Z. Now He says plainly, "I am the door
OF the sheep" The gate Of the garden OF
Eden, the gate and door and veil OF the
tabernacle, the door Of Noah's ark, the
entrance to the city Of refuge, were all
typical of Him who Is the way and the
only way. There is none other name
given under heaven among men whereby
told men to look unto Him and they would
be saved. Christ Is God, and when ne re-
ceive Christ we receive God. The Son has
left on record that blessed truth, Him
that cometh unto Me will In nowise cast
out" (John VI, 81.
s. All before Him or beside Him wero
thieves and robbers. take 1t that the
expression Gall that ever came before Me"
has the same thought as IN Ex. x1., 8,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before
Me-" The first thief and robber was
satan, who tried to take AdaEa and Eve
away from God.
9. Again he says that; He is the door,
and he speaks Of safety and plenty. Not
only Is He the door, but He is also our
salvation and our food. he said, che
that eateth Me, even He shall live by Me"
(John VI, SD. Any one may enter IN and
And in Him salvation and rest and peace
and plenty.
10. he desires to give life and life abun-
dainty, while the thief seeks only to de-
stroy. The father OF all the thieves Is
called the adversary, who goeth about
seeking whom he may devour q Pet. v,
81. Christ Is our life. When we receive
Him, we have life, and when we let Him
hou al a n
life. .:
II. He says, "I am the Good Shepherd"
Elsewhere he says, or rather Is spoken OF
az the Great Shepherd and the Chief
Shepherd (Heb. xiii, 20, 81; Pet. ", y.
As the Good Shepherd He gives Hls lie
for US that He may save us. As the Great
Shepherd He works In US the things which
are pleasing to God. As the Chief Shep-
herd He will reward US at his coming for
the service We have permitted Him to ac-
complish In us.
u. The hireling thinks more OF his own
life than the welfare OF the sheep. He Is
not one with the Good Shepherd, though
professedly serving Him. This and the
next verse are fully set forth In those
chapters In jeremiah and Ezekiel already
referred to. Let each answer for himself
as pastor, teacher or Christian worker, Am
I one with the Good Shepherd in seli-re-
nouncing and self-denyin4 labor, seeking
nothing for myself, but only the welfare OF
those with whom he brings me IN con-
tact?
13. because he Is hirellng." There
may be Christian workers In oil positions,
even as missionaries on the foreign field,
whose principal thought is their position
and their salary, rather than the salvation
OF souls and the glory OF God.
No Gpnuyo Hio ehaaD and thew know
Him. The Lord knoweth them that are
His, and in the judgment He will make no
mistake. He weigheth our actions and re-
CARDS our thoughts and Is ever ready to
show Himself strong on behalf OF those
who trust Him GI Chron. xvi, 81. He
even keeps book for those who think
upon Him (Mal. Ill.,, 16).
Is. The Father is wholly occupied with
His Son and with tho welfare OF all
through Him. The Son is wholly occupied
with the Father and with seeking the well
fare Of all whom the Father has given to
Him. They understand each other per.
fectly. They would have US as one OF
them, as they are with each other.
16. "Other sheepI have" Until atter
His resurrection there was no command TO
preach except to the Jews, but now the
command Is to 90 into all the world, to
every creature, that all who will may
come, The worker must not be dtseour-
aged because oil who hear do not believe.
All that the Father giveth Hir- shall come
TO Him, He shall see OF the travail OF
His soul and shall be satisfied, and He
shall not fail nor be discouraged (John w.,
81: Isa. ILL.,, II; Kill. ~. May the fire.
ouent repetition OF these and other texts In
these lessons be as helpful to the reader as
to the writer. do believe God.-Lesson