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THE KING’S BUSINESS Jesus the Good Shepherd
APRIL 15, 1917. LESSON III. John 10:7-18. (Read vs. 1-18. Memorize vs. 11, 12.) G olden T ext : “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” —John 10:11.
DAILY BIBLE READINGS Mon., April 9—John 10:1-10. (The Lesson.) Tües., April 10—John 10:11-18. (The Lesson.)
Wed., April 11—John 10:19-30. Thur., April 12—-John 10:31-42. Fri., April 13—Zech. 11:15-17; 13:7-9.
Sat., April 24—-Matt. 18:7-14. Sun., April 15—Luke 15:1-10.
EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
enters in by Him “shall be saved." The door is open to all, “any man." Though a man be the greatest of sinners, the door stands open (1 Tim. 1:15). Not only is Jesus the door of salvation, He is the only door (Acts 4:12). While any man can enter in by Him, no man can enter in any other way (cf. John 14:6), neither the law, nor the church, nor morality, nor baptism, nor any orthodox creed, is the door, “I am the door.” This door is opened by His atoning death (vs. 10, 11; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:22). We “enter” it by simple faith in Him (Rom. 3 :23, R.V.; 4 :3-5; Eph. 2:8; Acts 13:38, 39). (2) He is also the door to liberty, “shall go in and out.” The true acceptance of Jesus Christ leads not to a life of fear and constraint, but to the perfect liberty of a child (cf. Rom. 8:15). (3) To security. This too is found in the “go in and out.” The one who really enters by Christ is eternally secure (vs. 28, 29). (4) Furthermore, He is the door to satisfaction, “shall find pasture.” There is no such pasture for sheep in all the world as the one who enters in by Jesus finds. This pasture is “green” (Ps. 23:2), it is “good,” and “fat” (Ezek. 34:14; cf. Isa. 40:9, 10). It never fails (Rev. 7:16, 17). The world’s richest pasture lands are bleak and barren wildernesses in compari son with this. Christ is the door to other things not mentioned in this lesson (John 14:6; Eph. 2:18; Rom. 5:1, 2; Heb. 10:19,
vs. 7-9. "Then said Jesus (Jesus there fore said) unto them again, Verily, verily (add ,) I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever (omit, ever) came before me, (omit ,) are thieves and rob bers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; ( : ) by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Jesus is the door of rightful access to the sheep, and any one who tries to get access to the sheep in any other way than through Jesus Christ is “a thief and a robber” (cf. v. 1). Many claim ing to be shepherds of the sheep, came before the Lord Jesus came, some even claiming to be themselves the Christ; but all these who came before Him claiming to be shepherds of the sheep and trying to get access to the sheep some other way than through Him were “thieves and rob bers.” Many in our day are coming with similar claims. They, too, one and “all” are “thieves and robbers.” In our Lord’s day those who were really “sheep” did not listen to the false shepherds and false christs, no matter what were their preten tions : neither do the real sheep listen now, it is only the goats, not the sheep, who run after the cults. But Jesus is not only the door of access to the sheep. He is also the door (1) to salvation, “by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." This makes the way of salvation very plain and simple, just pass in by Jesus Christ. Any one who
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