Lesson 144 - Senior
Memory Verse
"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice" (John 10:4).
Cross References
I The Good Shepherd
1. The Lord makes it emphatic that we must enter in by the door into the sheepfold to be saved; thieves and robbers climb up some other way, [JHN:10:1]; [JER:23:21].
2. The Porter opens the door for the Shepherd, who calls His own sheep by name, [JHN:10:2-3]; [ISA:43:1]; [ACT:20:28].
3. The sheep know the voice of the Shepherd and will not follow the voice of strangers, [JHN:10:4-5]; [2SM:7:8]; [JER:17:16]; [MAT:25:32]; [GAL:1:8].
4. Jesus tells them plainly, "I am the door of the sheep"; all before Him were thieves and robbers, [JHN:10:7-8]; [JHN:14:6].
5. All who enter through Him will be saved, [JHN:10:9]; [EPH:2:18].
6. The thief comes to steal and destroy; Jesus came that they might have life, [JHN:10:10]; [EZE:34:2].
7. Jesus is the good Shepherd and giveth His life for the sheep, [JHN:10:11], [JHN:10:14-15]; [EZE:34:12]: [HEB:13:20]; [1PE:2:25]; [2TM:2:19].
8. The hireling fleeth when the wolf cometh, because the hireling cares not for the sheep, [JHN:10:12-13]; [ZEC:11:16-17].
II Other Sheep
1. Jesus has other sheep which are not of this fold: them will He bring, and there will be one fold and one Shepherd, [JHN:10:16]; [ISA:56:8]; [EZE:34:23]; [EPH:2:14].
2. The Father loves Jesus because He laid down His life for the sheep. He had power to lay it down and power to take it again, [JHN:10:17-18]; [ISA:53:7-8]; [HEB:2:9]; [JHN:21:19].
III Unbelieving Jews
1. This parable was given at the feast of Dedication; the people gathered around Him and said, "If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly," [JHN:10:22-24].
2. Jesus said, "I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep," [JHN:10:25-26]; [JHN:3:2]; [JHN:8:47]; [1JN:4:6].
3. Jesus and His Father are one, and no man is able to pluck the sheep out of their hands, [JHN:10:28-29]; [JHN:6:37]; [JHN:17:11-12]; [JHN:18:9].
4. The Jews sought to stone Jesus because He made Himself equal with God, [JHN:10:31-33]; [JHN:5:18].
Notes
In this parable Jesus draws a portrait of Himself, under the simple character of a true shepherd. He is using an illustration with which they are familiar. They knew the love and care that a true shepherd gave his sheep. Jesus is bringing vividly to the mind of his disciples that He is the Door into the sheepfold. The works of the Law would not suffice for their salvation, but they must enter through Him into the fold.
He opens this discourse in a most solemn manner: "Verily, verily . . ." (which is to say, "It is true! It is true!") as if to impress upon them the importance of what He was saying. Jesus said that he that climbeth up some other way is a thief and a robber. The sheep that belong to a shepherd have a right to his fold. But those who try to come into God's fold without true repentance and without being born again are climbing up some other way. The Lord calls them thieves and robbers. Many are trying to get into Heaven by their good works and deeds of charity, leaving out the Blood atonement and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
An Undershepherd
We have a beautiful illustration of a true shepherd in the life of King David. When a lad he was given the responsibility of taking care of his father's sheep. During those days a lion, and a bear, came into the flock and each took a lamb. David did not run when he saw the lion or the bear; but his love for the sheep and his responsibility for their safety caused him to go to their rescue. Faith and strength from his God helped him to snatch the lambs from the mouth of the lion and the paw of the bear. We believe the Lord gave him those experiences to teach him how to care for His people, Israel. The Lord saw that He could trust him as a true shepherd. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28).
An Uncompromising Spirit
Paul knew the value of being a faithful shepherd, and he said, "I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). There was no place for false doctrine in any of Paul's ministry. "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).
Paul was careful to see that no wolves dressed in sheep's clothing ([MAT:7:15]) were allowed to remain in God's flock. They may not always be as readily detected by the spiritual eye as the lion and the bear were to David's natural eye, but the Spirit of God does not let them get very far into the flock until their true identity is manifested to us. A true shepherd does not back off and run when he sees the wolf coming, but with sword and shield he goes forth to meet it as an enemy. Paul said, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock" (Acts 20:29). He said, "After my departing." He was determined they would not enter while he lived.
Sheep's Clothing
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15). In these last days many false prophets have arisen, wearing the garb of a minister. They have come in sheep's clothing and preached unsound doctrine to the people, turning many weak and unstable souls from the truth.
One of the great delusions of these last days is the doctrine of Eternal Security. This false doctrine is erroneously based on verses found in our lesson today along with other passages similarly wrested and misinterpret-ed. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
These false prophets declare that if one is born into the family of God, he is always a son. No matter what happens or how deep in sin he may go, he is always a son even though a prodigal son and that some day he will return home. They fail to consider the Bible teaching that a son can be disinherited, and that sin unrepented of will separate a soul from God eternally. There are many passages of Scripture counteracting this false doc-trine, but one found in Ezekiel is sufficient. "When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth. shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die" (Ezekiel 18:24).
We know, by taking into consideration all the passages of Scripture bearing upon this important subject, that we can fail to stay in God's hand. No power on earth or in hell can take us out, however, so long as we keep ourselves in God's will and way. We are the only ones who can take ourselves away from God's care and protection but we can do it! God gives every person a free will a power of choice to decide his own destiny. This he retains when he is born again. And if he chooses at any time to depart into sin, to turn God's way aside, to love the things of the world more than the things of God, he may do so, but he will do it at the expense of his own salvation.
No one who values his eternal salvation is going to risk dabbling in sin, expecting to get back to God before he dies. It is possible to be restored to God's favour after having lost the grace of God out of the heart ([1JN:2:1-2]); but should one die in his sins, he will be eternally lost. It is dangerous to trifle with God's love and mercy. "He that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22).
Helplessness
It is a fact that sheep will quickly recognise the voice of their shepherd and follow no other. Jesus said, "And a stranger will they not follow, . . . for they know not the voice of strangers" (John 10:5). A sheep that is lost is helpless to find its way back home. From a spiritual standpoint, there is no more helpless a being than a man lost in sin. It is impossible for him to get out of sin alone. He is powerless to help himself. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil" (Jeremiah 13:23). The devil has tried to substitute good works for a born-again experience Nothing but the Blood of Jesus can wash the heart from sin.
Power to Lay Down His Life
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." Here lay the glory of Christ's sacrifice, that His death was absolutely voluntarily given for the life of the sheep. The beauty of the Resurrection is also pictured in that he had power to take up his life again.
Other Sheep
"Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold." Black or white, red or yellow, there is no distinction with God, "But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him" (Acts 10:35).
We can imagine the feeling of relief that a shepherd has when the last sheep has passed through the door and all are securely housed for the night. We can picture the same joy when the last saint has passed through the Portals and the great Shepherd of the sheep announces, "They are all here; the roll has been called, and not one is missing."
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good plea-sure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
There will be one flock --- one fold --- one Shepherd.
Questions
1. What are the titles given Jesus in this parable?
2. How do shepherds get their sheep into the fold?
3. In a spiritual sense, how do we get into God's fold?
4. Through whom do we enter?
5. What does Jesus call those who try to enter some other way?
6. Who is the great Shepherd, and who are the undershepherds?
7. What does a hireling do when the wolf comes?
8. Are the Jews the only ones in the fold?
9. How many folds and how many shepherds will there be?