The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-03-18
Tho International Sunday School Lesson,
March 10, 1909. John Y (: 1.1e.
Christ the Good Shepherd.

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Christ the Good Shepherd.
Jesus had lately used those indispen-
sables. flight" and water" as en-
blems OF His office and function. He
now employs q new figure. almost as
familiar. Tor the Hebrews were always
a pastoral folk. This, with the story
of the vine and branches Chapter XIV,
is said to be the only instance Of ALE
CORY in the New Testament.
The Jewish church had grown into 4
great ecclesiastical establishment, fur
nishing numerous offices OF honor. pow
err and emolument. These were natu-
rally sought by the ambitious and held
tenaciously by the successful. One OBJ
ject Of this allegory Is to set forth the
character OF these mercenaries. Like
thieves they have effected an entrance
in such way that their true charac-
ter has not been discovered. But,
though they have obtained the garb Of
office, they do not have the following
OF the true members. The latter, In
stead OF following. flee, and do not hear
them. The character of these false
shepherds Is further delineated. They
work havoc in the highest interests Of
men. They steal, kill. and destroy In
the realms Of spiritual values. Their
purely mercenary spirit Is indicated by
the cpIthct ''hlreling." In the final
crisis. when the very life OF those men
whom they serve Is at stake. they would
hv like arrant towards. Thus, with
steady and courageous hands, Jesus
held the mirror before the hierarchy Of
His day.
On the dark background Of the false
shepherd, Jesus now projects the ideal
OF the true. He Is one who enters
upon his function in the appointed way.
The Holy Spirit (the porter approves;
the church recognizes Him (thc sheep
hear his voIce). His life Is spent in care
OF the flock; he calleth, leadeth. put
teth forth. goeth before.
Jesus makes decided turn in the
a!legory when He declares Himself to
be Inc door" Entrance to the church
is by the person and work OF none other
than Christ. There Is none other
name under heaven given among men. =
| Through Him We come to salvation ana
| spiritual sustenance (iird pasture) and
| the more abundant life.
Again, there are shepherds and shep-
| herds, but Jesus Is pre-eninently the
| Ht tNiutIING "a tiis' 10 At''
| voluntary surrender Of life and the re-
ciprocal and perfect recognition sub
| sisting between shepherd and sheep
analogous to that which maintains be-
tween Father and Son. -
Finally, Jesus burst the shell of Jew
ish sectariansm in the generous. and
courageous words: "Other sheep / have
which are not Of this fold" 1t was 4
hint of this kind which had led these
sectarists, on former occasion. to ask
scornfully, "Will He go and teach the
geatiles?" Alas! how they dissolve
the pearl of charity in the acid Of sect"
The zone Shepherd cxalts persons
above institutions. when He says there
shall be "one flock" not "one fold as
In the authorized version. which gives
precisely the opposite sense. The refer
ence Is to the invisible church." made
up OF the faithful of every age and land.
The Teachers Lantern.
~ Every one who enters by this
door (ChrisD is saved and becomes in
turn n minister OF grace to others "a
shepherd, not the Shepherd. as In a. VI
The pattern Is Jesus Every good shep-
herd lives for the flock.
(2). He who. stunning the door.
climbs up from some other quarter, by
that very act reveals his dishonest char
acter and unworthy purpose.
(3) ITO steal" and ITO have life." The
contrast is that of the false and the
true religion. Phariseclsm and ecclcsi-
asticIsm fleece and kill They have al
ways done so everywhere and by what
ever name they have been known. But
true religion always gives the present
life q more abundant development.
"Whatever form of religion tends to de-
prive mankind OF its free, natural and
| Joyous life is anti-Christian. The con-
slant tendency of Christs teaching and
influence Is to make the whole life, So
c!al, intellectual. moral and spiritual,
| more abundant"
"a. Lay down life, take 1t again"
,, The mother lays down her life in the
| birth and rearing OF every child. She
takes life again in the maturcd man
hood and womnnhood Of her offspring.
The analogy maintains In the suffering
and sacrifice of Jesus. He voluntarily
surrendered His lie. No one took 1t.
Now, with joy He secs His seed" His
spiritual offspring, and prolonss His
| days in them. as the prophet said lie
would. (1saiah liii.).
(5). "Thcy understood not" How
their worship OF the letter had destroy
cd all commerce between their minds
and the relations which It set forth
| (Maurice) "The sheep did not hear
them" 1t Is the preachers Of Christ
who alone have secured the worlds at
tention. And shall be safe The
extent and assurance Of this safety are
expressed In the parable. GO In and
20 out" An Hobraistc phrase 10 dc.
note the whole OF life. THE hireling;'
not everyone who is hired Is Il h!rcling,
but he who serves only for hire. "lic
gceth before them" Jesus tests In His
own person the experiences OF His dis
ciplcs. 1.-The other sheep also shall
hear Jesus voice" They have already
heard fragments OF His teaching
through their noblcst fellows. but they
| shall now hnNc His doctrlMe entlrC. -