Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-04-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson Second Quarter, For
April 5, 1908.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

Text Of the Lesson, John x, f.fs.
Memory Verse, e-Gelden Text, John
X 1f-cemmsntary Prepared by Rev.
D. M. stsarns.
Copyright, 1905. by American Press Association. ]
In this gospel we have already seen
Hin as the Life and the Light, the
Lamb Of God, the Temple of God, the
Bridegroom, the Messiah, Son of God,
King of Israel, the Fountain Of Living
Water, the Judge of all Mankind, the
Living Bread from Heaven, but In this
lesson He is the Good Shepherd, lay
ing down His life for the sheep, and
He is also the Door, the only way Of
entrance to the fold
To Israel God said, "Ye, my flock,
the flock Of my pasture are men," and
David by the Spirit sang 1--WE are His
people and the sheep of His pasture"
(Ezek. xxxiv, 81; Ps. C. 81. 1t is true
Of both Jews and gentiles that "all
we, like sheep, have gone astray," and
each one can say for himself. Il have
gone astray like a lost sheep" lisa.
ILL, G; Ps- cxix, 176). When sheep have
strayed, as they are so prone to do, 1t
is not their way to return home. They
must be sought by the shepherd, and
from the story of Adam and Eve all
the way down the Lord is ever the
seeker. He rejOices when He finds |
lost one to lay 1t on His shoulders and |
bring 1t home. He gathers the lambs |
! with His arm and carries them In His |
bosom and gently leads those that are |
with young duke Nv, 81; lisa. x, III.
He is spoken Of as the Shepherd of
Israel, who leadest Joseph like flock,
and some day the great shepherd
psalm (xxiiD as well as their national
anthem, written so long ego Qsa xiD.
shall be truly sung by all Israel. Hap
by indeed are all who can now sing
from the heart, "The Lord Is my Shep-
herd" Israel has had shepherds who
scattered the sheep and who fed them
selves instead Of the flock, but she
shall yet have one Shepherd who will
feed them In good pasture upon the
high mountains Of Israel, and they
shall be a blessing to many There
shall be showers Of blessing Oer. xiii;
Eek. xxxivt While we wait for Is
rael's future and worldwide blessing
through them there is q fold for His
saved ones now, to whom He gives
eternal life and concerning whom He
says, 'They shall never perish: neither
shall any pluck them out of my hand"
(verses 27-30. DR.. Morgan tells of a
shepherd who, explaining about there
being no door to his sheepfold. said.
"Oh, | am the door, and when all my
sheep are In and the night comes down
| lie down across the doorway, and no
sheep goes out except over my pros
trate figure, and no wolf comes In ex
cept over me-" There Is no other en-
trance to this fold but by the Door,
even Jesus Himself. the Way, the
Truth, the Life. but any man may en-
ter by this door and be saved. and then
In all the going In and out Of daily life 6
be kept and nourished and cared for b
by the Good Shepherd (verse 0; Ps I
xxi, s; John xiv. Q; Heb. K, 10, 20) 7
There are those who try to euter 9th
erwise than by the door. but He says ?
hat all such are thieves and robbers. t
or they attempt to appropriate, that '
which can be had only In Christ by p
yirtue Of His life laid down for the b
ost Speaking of those who came be- c
ore Him as thieves. He cannot refer Y
o patriarchs or prophets or John the n
Baptist, but TO such as would take His
lace, If possible. and lead people after
The sense may he seen In
TX Xxx, 3, Thou shalt have no other III
ODDS before Me-" and an Illustration b
) seen in lisa. XVI. 13, 20 Lord. our N
'od. other lords beside Thee have had IL
ominion over US" The devil. the VI
reat destroyer, and all his agents seek m
D usurp the place that belongs to the al
ord alone. but only to steal, to kill, tn
} destroy. The one aim OF the Good er
hepherd is to give life to those who st
re being destroyed and when deliy- az
red from the destroyer to give them 70
fe more abundantly (verse 10l. He tn
ever seeks aught for Himself, but te
D for His sheep. whom the Father or
rs given to Him. The hirelings, who Las
link more Of the hire than Of the ca
leep. are described In Phil. II, 81; ed
l. Is. 10. as those who seek their own
Id not the things which are Jesus sh
hrlst's, enemies OF the cross of Christ, pc
no mind earthly things In
Jesus seemed to take delight In the alt
ct that He was In the Father and the in
,ther In Him Verse 3SI. and He de-
res us to have the same JOY chapter
III, 21-23). that the world may be- 4
we and know. We must remember oat
at when He dwells IN us and we In tin
I'm the world will hate and III treat ed
!. as II did Him. for unto US 1t Is una
ven In the behalf Of Christ not only are
believe on Him, but also to suffer we
r His sake Pbil. l, 29). Green pas ed
res and waters Of Quietness will be the
rs just SO far as they are for our foo
CHEST good. but II He lead otherwise er
ch a shepherd cannot make mis- far
Re. We shall no doubt find that Ps. oat
Iii In its complete fulillment will BILE
seen In Israel In millennial days,
I we may have large foretaste
en- now. He calls US by name, leads II
out. goes before us, and 1t is ours pra
follow fully. like Caleb and Joshua. pos
n this lesson He Is the Good Shep- the
I'd. laying down His life for the WIN
eep: in Heb. Kill, 20, 21. He is the affe
eat Shepherd, working In US that
Iich Is well pleasing in His sight;
l Pet v. IA, He is the Chief Shep- T
ID, who will give rewards to His bee
thful followers In that day, crown getl
glory to those who feed the fock. din