The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-13
Sunday, Feb. IA.

| leliuiiiS IhN Ne'S - 80
December, 90 AID, Jesus present
ed a vivid contrast between the
i Good Shepherd who is faithful to
his flock, and the hireling shep-
herds who are false to their trust.
THE FOLD FOR THE FLOCK
The sheepfold pictures the sal.
walton. safety, and sustenance of
the sheep. The parable is radiant
with metaphor. l( The sheep
represent Gods people. A sheep is
trustful and teachable. 1t is alert
TO hear and quick to obey. 1t fol-
lows the shepherd but flees from q
stranger It is quite dependent
and seeks help from its shepherd
alone. (2) The sheepfold repre-
SCENTS Gods kingdom. Everywhere
in pastoral Palestine were the IA
miliar enclosures into which the
sheep were led for protection
overnight. Sometimes the fold was
enclosed with palings or a stone
wall crowned with thorn bushes.
(3) The door represented the en-
/ trance into the kingdom. This Of
course represents Christ who by
his supreme sacrifice opened to us
the gates Of salvation and of serv-
ice. (I) The porter represents the
Father or as some think, the Holy
Spirit. He knows the Son Of God
and the Saviour of the flock. He
knows the conditions of salvation
and he knows every one who is
saved. 90 The thief and robber
represent the enemies Of the
flock. The one is subtle and Sc
cret in his efforts while the other
is open and fragrant in his as
saults. Both ignore the door and
gain apparent entrance in some
other way. They may be consid-
cred part of the flock but their
motive is wrong and their work is
ruinous. co. The stranger repre-
sents the false religious teacher.
His knowledge Of the flock is de-
fective. His voice is not authorl-
tative. He is under suspicion. The
alert flee from him. The true
sheep will not follow him. GU The
shepherd represents chiefly the
Divine Shepherd, but secondly the
human shepherd under divine APP
pointment. The shepherd is re-
lated to the door, for he knows it,
He is related to the porter, for the
porter opens unto him. He is re-
lated to the sheep, for he calls
them by name, leads them in wis
dom, puts them forth in tender
ness, goes before them as their de-
fender. The sheep, moreover,
recognize the relationship for they
hear the shepherd, they know his
voice, and they follow him
whithersoever he goes.
THE FLOCK FOR THE FOLD
The shepherd cares for the flock
as shown in his purchase Of it, pro-
lection for it, and program thru
it. o. The Shepherds work in
the past was the purchase Of his
flock at the sacrifice of his life.
He went to Golgotha in order that
we might 60 to glory. He laid
down his life in order that we
might have life and have it abund-
antly and eternally. BY losing his
own life in atoning sacrifice he is
finding it again in the larger life
of the redeemed on earth and in
heaven. (2) The Shepherds work
in the present is the protection and
progress of his flock. Contrast
with him the hireling who may be
in mercenary charge of the flock.
He is not a shepherd in any sense
of the term. He is not the owner
Of one single sheep. He sees the
wolf coming at a distance and
knows the danger. But IN coward
ice and selfishness he forsakes the
flock and flees to spot of safety.
He cares nothing whatever for the
flock beyond its fleece and flesh.
But the Good Shepherd knows and
is known by his flock in an init
macy and fellowship like that ex-
| listing between the Father and the
Son. He laid down his life for the
sheep and they trust him as their
Saviour and Lord. (3) The Shep-
herds work in the future involves
his progra INTO the end of the age.
The handful Of followers clinging
to him during his earthly ministry
was to be multiplied in many
lands. In the certainty of anticipa-
ton he declared that he had other
sheep not of the Hebrew fold. Out
of the Gentle world must be gath
cred one great flock under the one
Good Shepherd. That unity de-
mands not unity Of organization
nor Of creed nor of ceremony nor
of anything material and external,
but spiritual unity in Christ.
FOLLOW THE GOOD
SHEPHERD -, y
az The Good Shepherd Excels.
Good" To be good in the high
est sense is to be nothing but good.
lit is the synonym of the perfect.
1t portrays the ideal. 1t actually
rises to the level Of deity. But
Jesus was the Good Shepherd in
the fullest sense. And he was
good because he was God.
(2) The Good Shepherd Re-
deems. "Giveth his life for the
sheep" The SHINING, straying lost
sheep must be re rebound, re-
deemed, and restored To be
brought back it must be bought
back. And Jesus paid the price.
He alone was able and willing to
pay It. But it cost him supremely.
(3) The Good Shepherd Admits.
"The door into the sheepfold." If
we get into the kingdom of God,
it must be through Christ. There
is none other name whereby we
must be saved. .' ''.' - /"
(4 The Good Shepherd Yearns.
l"Careth." Think of the illimitable