The Yale expositor., 1907-03-01
Sandusky, and Revs. L. B. Call, r.. o.
Lawrason and j. ). Raum, of Yale,
were present at the services.
John 1910. last clause of cerse.

None of Christ's parallels seem to
nestle so closely to mans bosom and
inner life as this one of the Good Shep-
herd. And we can not understand the
text unless we can see clearly the force
of what Christ is desirous of teaching
by the Good Shepherd. lie would have
them know that He is the door to the
sheep-fold, that lie is their protection
and security, and that by Him they
could go in and out TO find pasture.
The first part of the verse from which
our text is taken, Christ contrasts the
difference between thief and a good
shepherd. They knew the difference
at glance: for the thief came to take
away their subsistence, rather than to
give. The thief comes to kill and to
destroy, but Christ says, al am come
that We might have life, not only life,
but have ii more abundantly." Now
some would have us believe that Christ
was referring to the future life. but
do not think so. | think he had refer
ence to this present life, and if one has
the abundant life in this present world,
he will certainly have it in the world
to come.
Often did Christ use this word life,
the gospel of John could easily be
called the Gospel of Life, for SO many
times do we hear it. And always it is
used with Christ, plainly declaring that
apart from Him there is no life.
Now there is sense in which this
abundant life applies to all phases of
life. We can scarcely turn our eyes
anyway but what this universal princi-
pie is seen. All animal life is teeming
with this innate principle One illus
tration will prove our point. The amOe-
ba, the lowest form of life, which is
only seen by the aid of the microscope,
is performing the same functions as
man is, but how lowl 1t breathes, eats,
moves, reproduces, yes, performs all
the functions as man. But how abun-
dant is the life of man in contrast So
do we see the same difference among
men. There are those who are living
in dugouts, half lfcivilized, and uncul-
tured, plundering all with whom they
come in contact. Then again we see
the highly educated, living in palaces,
and defending themselves against all.
But there is still higher type of
man. 1t is the man who has taken
Christ as his life, who is not engrossed
with the paltry things of this life, but
who has set his affections on this above.
He who is living the Christ life has
privileges which the man of the world
knows not of, His life is hid with
Christ in God.
Next we notice that this abundant
life comes only by constant struggle.
1t is the survival of the fittest. This
struggle for life is seen III the lower an
imal life, in the life of nations, and in
the Christian life.
The abundant life in Christ is i'm
possible without constant struggle.
What mighty struggle it took for our
Saviour to keep this abundant life.
The cause of our weakness and inabil-
ity to do for Christ is because we be-
come weary and cease our struggle.
Compare your progress in this abun-
dant life with that of Paul, Luther or
Wesley, and you will see that it is far
short of theirs, and theirs was con-
slant battle.
If we wish to see the fruits of this
abundant life, we have only to notice
those nations which have taken the
Christ life as the ideal life. Compare
the vast difference of the type of life
found in America and England with
that of heather China and India. The
evidence is conclusive. Look at those
around you that have taken Christ as
their life, and we see those who can tru-
ly say, "For me to live is Christ
Sinner, you may possess wealth, learn
ing, and honor, but this is not the
abundant life which Christ came to
give. Only as that is surrendered to
Him in faithful service, can you truth
fully say you possess this abundant
life.