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Vs. 7-10. Which is more important: To believe Christ’s statements about being the “ door o f the sheep,” or to enter in, by faith, through the Door, to eternal safety? What is the purpose o f the Good Shep herd? of false shepherds? Vs. 11-16. What knowledge does the Shepherd have (1 ) o f the sheep? (2 ) of the Father? (3 ) o f the future? What a f fords the greatest protection against false teachers and false teaching? Did Jesus teach that He consciously and voluntarily gave His life for the lost? or was His death merely “an afterthought” ? Golden Text Illustration One o f the most engaging o f all the cat acomb testimonies to the Christian faith is known as “ The Good Shepherd and the Seasons.” In the center stands the strong, stalwart shepherd with a lamb upon his shoulder; one hand holds a crook, the other the legs o f the lamb, as if to secure the recovered creature from fear o f being lost again; on either side of the shepherd are figures representing the seasons. Spring has roses in bloom, summer has fruits, autumn ripened ears, while “ winter as an old man burns the leaves.” The meaning is that the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep the year round, that He is with them “all the day.” Jesus Our Good Shepherd J ohn 10:1-6, 11 Memory Verse: “Jehovah is my shep herd” (Psa. 23:1). Approach : In our lesson story last week, Jesus was glad the blind man knew that He, Jesus, was the Son o f God. As Jesus talked with the people, He tried to make them understand it, _t \ V P R ^ , ) shepherds. A t night a shepherd often ga thered his sheep into the sheepfold and closed and barred the door. For there were many things on the mountainside which might hurt the sheep. It was cold and dark at night; there were holes into which the sheep might fall; there was un derbrush in which they might get caught and held fast. Even after the shepherd got the sheep safely into the fold, there were dangers, Robbers might try to climb over the wails to steal the sheep. The shepherd had to protect the sheep from them, too. The wise sheep stayed with the shep herd, they knew his voice, and they fol lowed him. But the shepherd knew all his sheep, even the foolish ones who followed a stranger or who strayed away and got lost. He called them back to him. Jesus said to the people, “ I am the good shepherd.” Don’t you think the people would begin to understand that Jesus wanted to take care o f them as the shep herd did his sheep ? Many years ago, King David had written a song for the people. It was about this same thing. It began, “ The Lord is my shepherd.” Let’s say it together. too. Jesus knew that grown-up people like stories just as chil dren do, so He thought p e r h a p s they would under stand better who He was if He explained by telling a story. L e s s o n Story: Many o f the people in that country were
BLACKBOARD LESSON
the class the importance o f not only hear ing the Lord speak o f Himself as the Door, but o f stepping through that Door while it remains open. In verse 10, the Lord announces the pur pose o f His coming to earth. The false shepherds were thieves whose purpose it was to destroy; the true Shepherd is com passionate, and His purpose is to give life —abundant life—to the sheep. III. T he L ove of the T rue S hepherd (11-13). Here is another great verse (v. 11)— one that should form the heart o f the teaching o f this lesson. As the Good Shep herd, our Lord lays down His life for the sheep. This has already been done; hence we do not now look to the Good Shepherd for our keeping. It is as the Great Shep herd that He keeps His sheep; so it is to this One that the sheep look for protection and provision. As the Chief Shepherd, He will come again and reward His own. T o day’s lesson tells o f the Good Shepherd and His work. As the Good Shepherd, He seeks His sheep. They are lost, but He seeks them and, as Luke says, He seeks “ until he finds” them. Though they are scattered, He gath ers them to Himself. Having found them, He sets them free from the bondage where in they are held by the world, the flesh, and Satan (cf. Heb. 9:26; Eph. 2 :2; 1 John 3: 8 ; Heb. 2:14; 7:25). But in order to do this, the Good Shepherd must suffer and die. He says, “ I lay down my life for the sheep.” And in His death, all that was against the sheep was charged to Him, judged in Him, and removed by Him (cf. Isa. 53:10; Zech. 13:7; Psa. 22:1-12). There is now no condemnation for the sheep, there is no judgment for them, and there can be no charge laid against them (cf. Rom. 8:1, 3, 32). Thus the love o f the Shepherd is re vealed. But the opposite o f this is also seen; that is, the manifestation o f self- interest on the part of the false and blind shepherds (vs. 12, 13). They are hirelings, interested only in what they can secure for themselves. Instead o f doing anything for the sheep, they flee at the first sign o f dan ger and leave the sheep to the mercy o f the wolves. Modernists, with all their loud protestations o f interest in the sheep, are ready to leave them to their own devices when danger threatens, because they do not actually care for the sheep but only for themselves. No other religious teacher, before or since our Good Shepherd ap peared on earth, has ever been interested enough in the sheep to lay down his or her life on their behalf. All others are thieves, robbers, hirelings, and cowards. He, the Good Shepherd, alone is worthy of the name. IV. T he K nowledge of the G ood S hepherd (14-16). 1. He knows his own (14, 15). The extent o f the knowledge is here in view as is suggested by the Revised Ver sion rendering. He knows His own and is known o f them, even as He knows the Father and is known of Him. It does not merely mean to know, as in the case of two friends; but to know, as in the case o f two natures which are similar in character, tastes, and desires. The Father knows our Shepherd, the sheep know the Shepherd, the Shepherd knows the Father, and the sheep know the Father. While it is true
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that the sheep now know only in part, the day will come when the full knowledge of the Father will be their portion. 2. He knew the path before Him (15). The Lord Jesus was well aware that death lay before Him. The cross, with all its horrors, did not come upon Him as a surprise. He was not suddenly made aware that, because of His teaching, He must die. The idea that our Lord did not know the outcome o f His life until too late for Him to avoid the cross is a falsehood from the devil, who controls the false shepherds and, through them, the unbelieving sheep. From the very beginning, the Lord Jesus knew that His path was to end at the cross. He came into the world to give His life a ransom for the sheep. He knew this even as He spoke to His own. In verse 18, He declares that the laying down of His life was wholly voluntary. Any other thought robs Calvary o f its efficacy and sufficiency. 3. He knew the outcome o f His death (16). I He knew there were other sheep besides those in the fold of Israel, and those “other sheep” He was to bring in. Look ing down through the years, He could see all the division and the scattering of His sheep; but He could also see that the time would come when, in response to His voice, all would be gathered, and there would be one fold and one Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Himself. Lesson Questions Vs. 1-6. What is the relation between this allegory and the account in the pre vious chapter? What marks o f the true shepherd are given in the parable? We grateful are for One who knows Our highest joys, our deepest woes And grace sufficient e’er bestows From day to day. Though high estate or humble lot Our station be, it matters not, We ne’er by him will be forgot; He loves alway. ■ I f we our need of Him forget, To seek His grace should e’er neg lect, The loss is ours, and deep regret Will us repay. But if we ever seek His face, Abide in His unfailing grace, His guiding hand our path will trace Along life’s way. ■ —F red S cott S hepard . The One Who Knows “ Your Father knoweth” (Matt. 6:8 ).
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