The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-02-18
Lesson for February FL
JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD
LESSON TExT-John 1o:1-30.

LESSON TEXT-John 10:1-3O.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord is my
shepherd; I shall not want.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus Our Good
Shepherd.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Jesus Our Good
Shepherd.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Following the Good Shepherd.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
.1C-Jesus the Good Shepherd.
The occasion for the parable of the
Good Shepherd was the excommunica-
ton by the Pharisees of the blind man
who had been healed by Christ
!. The Good Shepherd wv. 1-1S).
! I. Jesus is the true shepherd (vv.
1-6). He came by the divinely ap-
pointed way. John the Baptist and
Others Of the prophets had performed
the function of the porter and opened
the door to the sheepfold wv. 2, -.
The power exercised by the Pharisees
in casting out this man was not OBJ
tanned by lawful means. 1t was stolen
by them and exercised in the bold
spirit of robbers. The reason the man
suffered accommodation was that
he recognized Jesus as the true shep-
herd and turned from the PhariSeeS,
not only as strangers, but as thieves
and robbers. Despite the deceit, au-
dacity, theft, and robbery of these
Pharisees, those who were Christ's
sheep were declared to be forming
new flock and following him as the
true shepherd ". A..
2. Jesus is the door of the sheep wv.
7-1O. The way to fellowship with
God is through Christ. He is not only
a door, but the only door (Acts 4 :12).
There is absolutely no way into the
fold of the redeemed but by and
through him. All who attempt to
gain access to God except through
Jesus Christ are thieves and rob-
bers ". 81 Those who become
members of the flock of God through
Jesus Christ enjoy marvellous priv
fleges and gifts wv. 9, 10Y.
q. Salvation-"shall be saved" ".
81. They not only enjoyed present
salvation, but are eternally saved wv.
81, 2s).
b. Liberty-"shall go in and out" ".
81. Only those who accept salvation
in Christ know what freedom is.
C. Contentment-"shall go in and
out and find pasture" ". 81 The one
who really enters the fold by Christ,
the door, receives that which is all
satisfying to the soul.
8. Jesus is the good shepherd wv.
His.
a. He giveth his life for the sheep
wv. lib. The hireling abandons
his sheep in time of danger. The
hireling, represented by the Pharisee,
takes up his work and continues it for
his own sake, for the profit that is in
it. Jesus was so devoted to his sheep
that he willingly laid down his life for
them.
b. He has perfect knowledge of his
sheep and they know him wv. IA, 15).
Knowing his sheep so well, he looks
after their welfare. He enjoys such
personal intimacy with his sheep that
he knows them by name, goes before
them to lead the way and defend them
from every danger.
c. His sympathy is worldwide ".
16). He declared, "Other sheep have
I which are not of this fold" This
suggests that the Gentiles have
place in his fold.
d. He enjoys the love of the heav-
emily Father wv. II, 1S).
II. The Sheep wv. 1880.
l. Unbelievers are not Christ's sheep
(vv. 1926. Christ's assertion that he
was the good shepherd caused a de
vision among the people. Some &C.
cused him of being mad, others that
he had a devil. To their request that
he would tell them plainly if he were
the Christ, he responded by referring
them to the testimony of his works,
declaring that the secret of their in
ability to recognize him was their I'M
belief.
2 His sheep recognize his voice ".
27) There are many voices in the
world: the voice of the hireling, the
voice of the thief, and the voice Of
the stranger; but none Of these will
the sheep hear. The voice of the true
shepherd is recognized by his sheep
even amidst the babble of voices in
the world today.
8. He knows his sheep ". 27). Re-
CARELESS Of how helpless and ignorant
the sheep may be, he knows every
one and he looks after them.
4. His sheep follow him ". 2O.
This is the proof that they are his.
The true sheep will flee from stran-
gers ". 81. This should be solemn
warning to all such as are following
strangers.
5. His sheep are eternally secure
wv. %, 29). The sheep are entirely
dependent upon the shepherd. It is
the shepherds business to look after
and care for the sheep.
WORDS OF WISDOM