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THE KING’S BUSINESS
wildernesses in comparison with this. Christ is also the door to other things not mentioned in the lesson (John 14:6; Eph. 2:18; Rom. 5:1, 2; Heb. 10:19, 22). Wednesday, June 21 . John 10 : 10 - 13 . Jesus is not only the door, He is the Shepherd also, “ the Good Shepherd.” This is very emphatic in /the Greek. Literally translated, the words would be “I am- the Shepherd, the Good One.” False Christs and leaders had come claiming to be shep herds, but really thieves and robbers. Such were the Pharisees, they came to “ steal and kill and destroy.” There are not a few like them today,, pretending to be shepherds, but robbing the flock and killing and destroying by their false doctrines and their wicked ways. But Jesus’ mission was glorious. “I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” Any one of us then may not only have life, but have life “ exceeding,” life “beyond measure.” Have you this superabundant life? So many have such a thin thread o f life. How abundant we may have life appears in John 1:16 (cf. Col. 1:1 9 ); Col. 2:9, 10, R. V .; Eph. 3:16-19, R. V. The best exposition 'o f the sweet words, “ I am the Good Shep herd” is the one you will get upon your knees pondering them, turning them over and over, Constantly looking to God to let you into their wealth o f meaning. It is not only a wonderfully comforting thing that our Lord says here, it is also an amazingly daring One, for in the Old Testament Jehovah, and Jehovah only is the Good Shepherd (Ps. 23; Isa. 40:10, 11; Ezek. 34:11, 13), and when Jesus says here, “ I am the Good Shepherd” He as much as says, I now take Jehovah’s place. Jesus has abundantly proven that this is no idle and blasphemous claim that He makes, He' has proven that He is indeed the Good Shepherd, and so has proven that He is Jehovah manifest in the flesh. The crown ing proof o f His love to the sheep is that He “layeth down His life for” them. If we aspire to be good shepherds we must be willing to do the same. I f at the approach
o f danger we leave the sheep and flee for our own safety, we are hirelings and not shepherds (cf. 1 Peter 5:2). Thursday, June 22 . John 10 : 14 - 18 . Jesus knows His own and His own know Him, even as the Father knows Him and He knows the Father. Wonderful words these, who can fathom the depth and inti macy o f that knowledge ? And there is life in it and eternal security in it (John 17:3; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 :12). Ten great points about the Good Shepherd: (1) He knows the sheep even as the Father knoweth Him and He the Father. (2 ) He is known by the sheep. (3) Has personal interest in each sheep and deals with it individually, calls it by name (v. 3). (4) “ Leadeth them out.” (5) Thrusts forth the laggard sheep (v. 4), ( 6 ) Overlooks none, “all His own” (v. 4, R. V .). (7) “Goeth before them.” He has trodden every step that we must take. ( 8 ) Careth for the sheep (v. 13). (9) “Layeth down His life for the sheep” (vs. 11, 15). (10) Giveth eternal life and abundant life to the sheep (vs. 10, 28, 29). Jesus has sheep outside of Israel (v. 16). When He has brought them also, they will become one fold (Eph. 2:14, 15; Gal. 3:28). It is through hearing His voice that they are brought (v. 16). Friday, June 23 . John 10 : 19 - 27 . The words o f Jesus always cause divi sion. To those who are o f God the words o f Jesus are clearly seen to be the words o f God, but to those who are o f this world the words o f Jesus are as the words o f a madman. Certainly Jesus was either the Son o f God as He claimed*to be, or else He was a lunatic, as some here suggested that He was. It ought not to be hard for any fair minded man to decide whether Jesus was Son o f God or lunatic. Cer tainly a lunatic cannot' back up his claims by opening the eyes o f one born blind (v. 21).- The ground o f a man’s unbelief is not because Jesus has not made plain enough declaration that He is the Christ, nor because He has not backed up His
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