The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-02-18

Beautiful and meaningful as they
are, none of the other figures or
types of our Lords redemptive work
have a stronger appeal than that of
the good shepherd. Even those who
have never tended sheep nor yet
seen them under the shepherd S care
sense the telling aptness of the ale
CORY of the Good Shepherd. We
know how much we are like sheep
needing the tender shepherds care,
and we soon learn to know and to
trust Christ as the True Shepherd
of the flock.
The center Of the picture is the
Good Shepherd, and it is around
Him that we group our thoughts.
1. He Knows His Sheep wv. 1-5).
At night whenever possible, the
sheep were brought into fold,
Walled-in enclosure with shelters and
with a single gate. Many different
focks were kept together under the
care Of an undershepherd. In the
morning the shepherds came to lead
forth the flock They came by the
door, not as the thieves of the night,
who sought to come in by stealth
over the wall.
When the shepherd called, his own
sheep responded. We are told that
they would not come at the call of
stranger-not being ready to trust
him.
The application is obvious, and
yet a word is in order. We ought
to examine ourselves and see Wheth-
er we do indeed know our Lords
voice Do we respond when He
calls us? Then, too, let us be on the
lookout against those who profess
to be shepherds, who call them
selves ''pastor" or reverend" and
have only one purpose-to despoil
the sheep. They are thieves and
robbers" Jesus said so. They are
only interested as long as it pays.
The true shepherd cares for his
sheep.
II. He Protects His Sheep wv.
6-l5).
Not only thieves, but wild animals
would attack sheep, and it is said
that often the shepherd died to pro-
tect them from harm. But the hire
ling. serving for what he can get out
of it, is not interested any longer.
When danger appears, he fees. He
has not the real shepherd heart and
cares not if the sheep be destroyed"
Having stolen them to enrich him
self. he will not defend them at the
cost of his own life.
Note the sharp contrast Of 81 am
the good shepherd" with the dark
picture of the faithless ilirclings Not
only does it magnify His goodness,
but it deepens the blaCkness Of their
treachery.
We should recall that the Good
Shepherd is able to protect His
sheep; for while He lays down His
life for them, He takes it again in
victory over sin and death (see w.
II, 49,. The Saviour seemed to have
been defeated at Calvary, but He
arose again, and ever HVeth to make
intercession on our behalf (Heb.
7:25).
III. He Seeks Other Sheep w. 16).
The other sheep Jesus had in mind
were probably the Gentiles. The
believers He then had were Jews,
but the day was to come when the
Gentiles were to hear and believe.
His desire for them may well stir in
our hearts an eagerness TO go out
and bring in all-both Jew and Gen
tile-Who will, by believing in Christ,
become members of His one fold.
Note the word Unjust" in veloe IS.
It does not say eff convenient, nor
"when we can raise enough money"
nor latter our local debts are paid"
we will go out and seek others.
There is a divine imperative here
it Unjust" be done.
Let us not fail to gather the full
significance Of the expression lone
flock, one shepherd" We are not in
terested in any manufactured unity
Of man-made organizations. Certain
ly we will not accept union which
means compromise of essential
truth. But unity under Christ, the
one great Shepherd, that we want
yes and will have. He makes that
certain" they shall be one flock"
Let us not put hindrances in the
way Of that kind of unity, and let
us not be delinquent about seeking
the "other sheep" Now a final word
". He Keeps All His Sheep wv.
27-3O).
These words (said after period
of weeks had elapsed) stress the
blessed assurance which comes to
those who follow Christ. Jesus re-
buked the Jews for their unbelief,
telling them that they were not His
sheep.
Those who are His have been Civ
en- to Him by the Father-an eternal
gift to Him-and He gives to them
eternal life.
The power back of this whole mat
ter is evident in verse 80. Christ
is God. He who is in Chri5ts hand
is also in the Fathers hand, land
no man is able to pluck them out
of the Fathers hand" Instead Of
trying to modify that statement, or
to quarrel with those who believe it,
every Christian ought to accept it
and shout "Hallelujah!"
-V-----