The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-04-12

LESSON TExT-John 10:7-17.
GOLDEN TEXT am the good Shep-
herd: the good Shepherd giveth His life
/ for the sheep.-John 10:11.
; This lesson probably occurred at
the Feast of the Tabernacle in Octo-
! Der, A. d. 20. The place was Jeru-
salem, perhaps in or near the temple.
Facts, pictures and Illustrations re-
garding eastern shepherd life can be
used effectively in teaching the lesson.
The true teacher must impart, develop
and protect. Jesus does all Of these
things.
!. Jesus, the Door (vv. 1-9).. Any
one who tries to get access to the
sheep any other way than through
Jesus the door IS thief and rob-
Der ". -. A door is an invitation to
enter, to investigate, to purchase, to
learn, to meet others. 1t is the proper
entrance. 10 go in through any other
way arouscs suspicion. 1t is also
means Of safety to control those who
! enter; it can he closed in case of dan
ger, and Is strong to protect against
storms and thieves. 1t is means of
! separation, to Insure privacy, and to
! furnish means of egress. Jesus says
we are to Ego in" for communion with
| God, and to ego OUT for service, to
! "go in" for strength and to Ego OUT
| FOR conflict. Verse nine is wonder
full verse. In 1t we have the simplic-
ity of the Gospel, 81 am the door,"
the exclusivencss Of the Gospel, "By
me-" the conditions Of the Gospel, EN-
n rtotn nfx l.SS
liberty, "GO in and out - the Drovis-
ion, "Find pasture"
The true acceptance Of Jesus leads
not to life Of fear and constraint
but to the perfect liberty Of child,
satisfaction in green pastures Cps. %:
p that never fail (Rev. 7:16-17). The
worlds richest pasture lands are bleak
and barren wildernesses in comparison
with this. Christ is the door to other
things not mentioned in this lessen
(See John 14:6; Eph. 2:18; Rom. Il
2; Heb. 10:19-22). BY him we enter
the room Of the knowledge Of God.
The Christians business is to know
God and to make him known.
II. Jesus, the Good Shepherd (vv.
/ 1919. 1t is not enough to be n door.
A door has no volition. 1t cannot leave
Its place. shepherd can go in and
out. A false Christ and false shep-
herd are really thieves and robbers
who come to "Steal and kill and de-
strOy." On the other hand, Jesus
mission was n glorious one, IT came
that they might have life, and that
they might have It more abundantly."
AS good Shepherd (1) he has cour-
age ". 12). Jesus was not only will
Ing but actually did give his life for
the sheep. He had love for all of the
sheep, and was willing to seek the lost
(Matt. 1879. He also had conf
dence, due to his knowledge Of God ".
l4). This is not audacity but quiet
confidence due to experience. He
knows the proper pastures. He knows
where to find water for the sheep. He
knows the dangers and pitfalls along
the pathway. He knows how to di-
rect our efforts. Sunday school teach
ers who are following in the steps of
the master and who perform the acts
of good shepherd, must pay the
price of knowledge. (2) Jesus had
character (v. 1a) He was right in
the sight Of God, but in order to be
right in the sight of God he must also
be right in the sight of men. God ex-
poets results. The church expects re-
suits from us. The parents who trust
their children to our teaching expect
results. A sheep does not live for it.
self. 1t lives for others. Unless it
produces wool, md is good for meat,
1t has existed in vain; so God, man
ana the church expect OF us, as under
shepherds, that we shall produce re-
suits. This we do not have to do in
our own strength for any of us nav
have the life which Is "abundant" and
Exceeding" and beyond measure"
The question is, have we this super
abundant life? (See Pet. 1 :S; John
1:15; Col. 10; Eph. 9:16-1o).
Doctor Torrey has called our atten-
ton to ten points about the good Shep-
herd. U He knows the sheep. (2)
He Is known by his sheep. (3) He has
a personal interest in his sheep, calls
each by name ". -. (4) He leadeth
them on. (5) He thrusts forth the
laggard sheep ". ~. co. He over
looks none; all are his own ". 4 r.
W. ~ He goeth before them. He
has trodCen every step Of the way that
they must take. (8) He carcth for
the sheep q. 13). (9) He layeth down
his life for Yhe sheep wv. II and 15).
QO Giveth eternal and abundant life
to the sheep wv. 10, %, 2o).
Jesus has sheep outside Of Israel ".
16. When these are brought in they
VIII an become one fold (Eph. 2:14,
10; Gal. 1929. 1t is through hearing
his voice that they are to be brought.
The laying down Of his life was a vol
untary act on his part, but 1t was per-