Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-04
Jesus the
Good Shepherd
Sunday School Lesson fer April S. 1898
specially Prepared for his Paper

TIME. September. A. u. "a AZ the feast
OF tobernacles tJohn 1.2l. Some common
tators. however. consider that John sl-l0-
p took place at the feast or dedication
John 10-2D IN November. The latter
part Of the third year OF Jesus public
ministry.
PLACE-Jerusaiom. on the second
superstition as to time. the exact place
WAS Soiomon's porch. on the east side OF
the temple. Jesus with His audience
might have seen the shepherds gathering
their scattered fiocks II they grazeo out
from the courts OF the temple over the
neiEhborinK hills. Public Commentary
PERSONS. the blind man
whom Christ had just healed. some OF
Christs disciples and some OF the Pharl-
sees
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Twofold Parable: the Fold, the
shepherd.-Vs. 1-6. First let us try
to put ourselves back among the
sheepfolds Of Christ's time How we're
they arranged The fold was a
walled enclosure open 20 the sky, with
a solid door, which was closely barred
at night by the dOorkeeper, and opened
by him IN the morning, when the shep-
herds came 20 claim their sheep.
which they had left IN the fold the
previous evening. in order 70 lead out
20 pasture. Century Bible. The door
keeper, or porter" would know that
anyone found climbing in over the
wall was "a thief "a sneak thief,
or "a robber" "a more violent rascal)
The Twofold Interpretation Of the
Parsble-Vs. 742 What double anal
oEy did Christ draw from the parable?
He was the Door ". y and the Shep-
herd ". ID. Why did be run the
risk Of confusing his hearers Because
truth is 80 many-sided. and Christ
means so much 90 men. that many
comparisons are needed 10 picture Il
all.
First Analogy: Christ. the Door
Tvs 7-9). How is Christ like the door
OF a fold? Through him alone can
men enter into the peace and safety
that a fold implies-safety from the
ravening beasts OF sin. peace in the
consciousness OF safety. Through the
door. too they go out ". 81 into the
pasture" What am a doc 10. any
how? Jes' 90 shet yo' out, ies to shet
20 in or 90 let yo' thro'. Jesus am de
Doc de way into de Kingdom; an
he am de Doc. de way out into life.
He sho' did say. IN 30 enters Ia by
me. yo' shall bee saved-no evil can
git by de Doc Jesus. An yo' shall go
out an I'm Honey. dat am de free
dom what he am all de time promisin'.
An 20 shall find pasture Dat am de
fullness OF life what he am all de time
tellin' bout When yo' passes out an
when yo' passes in. 20 sho' nuf has
70 pass right by de Mastah. and look
him plum sQuar' in de eyes. w.
I.awrance. Go in and OUT was a
phrase familiar TO the Jews. Soc
Deut 2S: 8: Psa. 121; S; Jer. 81; 4.
why did Christ say he was the
door OF the sheep. rather than of tho
fold?" Because Christ was thinking OF
his individual followers. the sheep.
rather than Of the fold his church
He IS the door OF both.
Who were those that came before
Christ. the thieves and robbers. whom
tho sheep did not hear? Not the
prophets. who humbly pointed forward
10 Christ. but the Jewish leaders Of
the time Just before Christ and es-
pecially the Pharisees They had laid
many heavy burdens upon the people.
who had been compelled TO obey the
severe requirements OF formal religion,
but their hearts never yielded 20 these
false leaders, the sheep did not hear
them"
Second Analogy: Christ the Shep-
herd Tvs 1O-lS. 22-30) AS opposed 70
the Pharisees' wrong way OF enter
ing the Kingdom. Christ was the
p, Door; but as opposed 10 the charac-
- ID. -. h. Chen
herd. AS mediator between God and
man. he is the Door; as prophet or
teacher. he is tbs Good Shepherd
James NJ. Macdonald. d. d. This Is a
frequent metaphor OF the Old Tesla
ment. applied TO God and 10 Gods
honored servants (Num- 27: 1921;
Pisa. %: so: /: lsa. 40: II; Jer. %:
IA; Eek. 81: 11-16; Zech. II: AID
| Homer often speaks Of his kings and
leaders as shepherds; see also Plato S
Republic. Book l. The figure has
Impressed itself deeply on the mind
OF Chrfstendom, and is conspicuous
in the art and literature OF the
churches. Il is still the emblem OF the
Christian ministry. from the once OF
the bishop, with his pastoral stan. to
that of the village preacher who Is
known as pastor. Century Bible
This is the favorite and most touch
ing figure in the Catacombs. II seems
to inspire the early Christian painters
with delightful skill
How was Christ like a shepherd
In I'd his care of men Tvs. 1919, In
CD his knowledge of men Tvs. Il, 49,
in CD the breadth of his love for men
". 10, in "a the eagerness OF mems
love for him ". 20. in CD his divine
commission to care for men (vs. 10
IN, is, %. 2e.)
Two Kinds of Hearers Tvs. 1921
l31-A2) Christ's words. like a two
edged sword, always divided his hear
lers into two classes: those tha
Knocked at him or ragged against him
and those that went away thoughttu
and impressed If not convinced. i
the last half of the chapter is 10 b.
referred 10 the same occasion as th'
irst half (see "Time'D. the first SO
OF hearers even tried to stone Chris
for his claim OF unity with God. Thii