The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-08-24
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
tor August 20. lOOO-I~ssA
the Good shepherd.
Prepared by II. G.. Lexington ]
THE LESSON TEXT.
DOM IO.l-lJ.)

THE LESSON TEXT.
John l0.l-lG)
Verify. vcriiy say unto you. IL that
.ntercth not by the door into the sheep-
fnll. but cimbcth up some other way.
me same IL thief and robber
But ne that cntcrcth In by the door
a the shepherd OF the sheep.
2 To him the porter openeth: and the
sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his
own sheep by name. and ieadeth them
out.
And when he putteth forth his own
sheep, he Eoeth before them. and the
sheep follow him. for they know his
voice
d And stranger VIII they not fol-
low. but win flee from him; for they
KNOW not the voice OF strangers.
ThSs parable spalSe Jesus unto them
hut they understood not what things
they were which lie spakc unto then.
7. Then said Jesus unto them again.
verify. verify say unto you. | am the
door OF the sheep.
All that ever came before me nre
thieves and robbers: but the sheep did
not hear them.
Q / am the door: by Me II any man
enter in, He shall be saved. and shall
20 in and out. and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not. but for to
steal and to kill. and to destroy; / am
that they might have II more abundantly.
H. | am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
~ But He that Is an hireling. and not
the shepherd. whose own the sheep are
not. seeth the wolf coming. and ieaveth
the sheep. and neeth. and the wolf
catcheth them and scattereth the sheep.
49, The hireling feeth. because he IL
an hireling. and carcth not for the sheep.
IA | am the good shepherd. and know
NV sheep and am known OF mine.
Is AS the Father knoweth Me. even
so knoweth | the Father, and lay down
my life fer the sheep.
l6 And other sheep ! have. which are
not OF this fold: them also l must bring.
and they shall hear My voice. and there
shall be one fold. and one shepherd.
GOLDEN TEXT.-The good sheph e I'd
giyeth his life for the shcep.-John
NOTES AND COMMENTS
The Shepherd Of the Sheep VERSES
l-51.-The connection of this lesson
with the last is marked. Not only does
il belong to the same series of dis
courses, but its application hinges upon
the events connected with the story
81 the bind man. The pharisees were
anxious TO divert the credit for the re-
storing of this mans sight from Jesus
They said 10 Him: Give God the glory;
we know that this man (Jesus) Is a sim
ner." The reply of the man was en-
inently sensible. Theorizing was not In
his line, but he had one hard, solid.
substantial fact upon which to stand.
Whether he be sinner" he said, Il
know not; one thing ] know. that,
whereas ! was blind, now ! see" This
could not be disputed, ii was evident 10
all. 1t was no theory. but fact. SO
they made him repeat his story, and
having determined to put anyone out OF
the synagogue who acknowled ged
Jesus 10 be the Christ, the pharisees
followed him hard with questions I'M
Ill he boldly declared: IF this man
were not from God, he could do moth
ing"
Jesus heard that they had cast him
out OF the synagogue. and finding him,
declared Himself to be the Son Of God.
Then turning TO the pharisees spoke
this parable OF the good shepherd,
drawing the distinction between the
true and false leaders. The priests
and pharisees stood in the place o.
shepherds to the children of Israel,
their religious guides and instructors.
They had misused their positions. sub
stituted false doctrines, and led the
sheep astray. They strove for per-
sonal advantage. for position and honor,
and not for the good OF those in their
charge. The parable is really an ar
raigument OF these false teachers.
Jesus the Door Verses 6-7) In con-
tradistinction to this worldly, self.
seeking attitude, Jesus declares Him
self 10 be the door Of the sheep. The
pharisees had not understood the par
able. Jesus points out the applica
ton: "The thief cometh not. but for
20 steal, and TO kill. and TO destroy
They had been thieves In the fold OF
the Master. Jesus instead OF seek.
ing personal advantage declares He
has come that they might have life
and that they might have II more
abundantly."
Jesus the Shepherd VERSES I-16.).-
Not only is Jesus the door, the way Il
life, but He is the Shepherd. The sheer
belong 10 Him. The men who care
FOR the sheep for Him feel little inter
est in the welfare of the sheep. They
fly for their own safety at the cry o.
wolf" Jesus. the true Shepherd. vii
lay His very life down for the sheep
The pharisees have claimed TO be thu
ambassadors Of God. but they know
not Gods son. Jesus knows the Fla
'her. and His Fathers interests are Hi
interests. therefore the sheep. all true
believers in God and Jesus Christ, shall
know His voice. by and by all sucl
believers shall be gathered together II
one fold under one shepherd"
One Of the main lessons TO be found II
all this story outside Of its plainl.
evangelistic teaching is that we ma.
know the true teacher. the one wh'
can be trusted. by the fact that he seek
not his own interests. but the inter
ests OF others. The unselfish life Is TIL
NE of power and influence amonl