Lecture XV: The Good Shepherd

Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.’* — John x. 1-6.

We may learn from verse 6, that this parable is difficult and dark to the natural eye: “They understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.” How much need, then, have I of a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit while I open it to you! and how much need have you to lave the face of the covering destroyed from off your hearts, uid to receive the unction from the Holy One, that you nay know all things!

1. The thief and robber.

2. The good shepherd.

I. The thief and robber: “Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, the same is a thief and a robber.” — Verse I. There can be no doubt that this chapter is a continuation of the preceding. Jesus was showing the Pharisees what blind and guilty teachers they were. They were deeply offended at him. In this chapter he goes on to show them the marks and defects of false teachers. It seems plain, however, that Jesus speaks mainly of one thief and robber. He calls him “a stranger” — verse 5; “the thief* — verse 10; “the hireling” — verse 13; and he contrasts him with the good shepherd, who gives his life for the sheep. Who is this thief and robber, who climbs over the wall of the sheepfold? this stranger, who tries to lead away the sheep of Christ? ihia thief uad robber, who comes not but ox No Y^.yxAXa steal, and to destroy? I have no doubt tJaaX. ltla^^»sw-^

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the god of this world — the prince of the power of the airhe that entered into Judas — he who filled the heart of Ananias and Sapphira.

Satan has three ways of attacking the sheepfold.

(1.) Through Antichrist, There can he no douht that Satan is the grand master-moyer of all the workings of Antichrist. We are told so in 2 Thess. ii. 8, 9: ‘^ And then shall that Wicked he rerealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the hrightness of his coming: even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and with signs, and lying wonders.” Again, Rev. xii. 9: And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceiyeth the whole world.” And again, Bey. xiii. 1, 2: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seyen heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his

heads the name of blasphemy And the dragon gave

him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” This is Satan’s grand plan for killing and destroying the sheep tA the sheepfold. Thus he wears out the saints of the Most High. (2.) Through the world. Satan is the god of this world. From the days of Cain the world has come over the walls of the sheepfold, to kill, and steal, and destroy. The world, whether it smiles or frowns, hates the Christians, and seeks to leap over the wall of the fold. (3.) Through worldly ministers. Satan entered into Judas, and no doubt enters into many ministers still: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” There is no way in which Satan has done more damage to the Church than by thrusting unfaithful shepherds over the wall of the fold. Such were the Pharisees of old — such are careless ministers to this day.

1. The mark of the false shepherd. The false shepherd “entereth not by the door, but climbeth up some other way.** The door of the fold we know to be Christ:” I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” — Veise 9. This is the sure mark of Satan and all his underlings — they do not enter in, and are not saved through Christ. It is so with Satan himself. Unhappy spirit of evil, the strait gate of life was never opened to him. He leaps over the wall into the ioVd %«ilxi .q ^«smx the sheep — ifthnself lost and unholy. So is it with Antichrist and all sis minister?. They have never themselves entered hj the loor. They deny Christ to be the door. They would have Enen climb over some other way. .. 2. The object of the false shepherd: “The same is a

ftiief and a robber. Thethiefcomethnotbutforto

■teal, and to kill, and to destroy.*’ — Yerse 10. The object

of Christ in coming to this world was to seek and to save

that which was lost: ‘For the Son of Man is not come

feo destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” — Luke ix. 5^,

I am come that they might have life, and that they might

iuive it more abundantly.” — John x. 10. So with all his

ttiinisters. Our heart’s desire and prayer to God for you

all is, that ye may be saved. We cease not from “• wamevery man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that

may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” — Col.

i. 28. I am made all things to all men, that I might by

«11 means save some.” — 1 Cor. ix. 22. But the object of

Satan and all under him is, ‘^ to steal, and to kill, and to

destroy.” lst They seek to rob God. Antichrist robs God

of his throne, changing the very law of God — robs Christ

of the glory of being the only Mediator between God and

man. The world robs God of bis throne in your hearts;

and worldly ministers rob God of his glory by concealing it

- — -keeping back the counsel of God for man’s salvation.

The same are thieves and robbers. 2df, They seek to rob

man. Antichrist robs man of the Bible — of the preached

Gospel — of the way of pardon and peace. The world tries

to rob you of your peace — of your way to holiness and

eternal life. Worldly ministers seek to rob you of your

precious, never-dying souls.

Awake, my friends; you are in a dangerous time. Beware of false shepherds, which come to you in sheep’s clothing. Beware of Antichrist, in whatever form he may come to you. Beware of the world, whether in its frown or in its bewitching smile. Beware of cold worldly ministers.

II. The good shepherd: “The shepherd of the sheep.”

1. The shepherd of the sheep is the Lord Jesus Christ:

“I am the good shepherd.” — Verse 11.” I am the good

shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mm.” —

Verse 14. Why does he get this name’J <^.’^ Becau&ft>^

died /or the »heq>. He is not a thie£ not «l xc^ct — “v not a stranger nor a hireling, bat the shepherd of the sheep; “All we, like sheep, have gone astray: we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” — Isa* liii. 6* (2.) Secause he findt the sheep: ^’ What man of you having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost until be find it?” — Luke xv. 4. Every sheep in the fdid has been found by Jesus. (3.) Because he carries the sheep: “And when he hath found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” — Luke XV. 5. He gathers the Iambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom. (4,) Becatsse he leads and feed9 the bheep. They “go in and out, and find pasture.” — Verse 9. “The Lortt is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” — Ps. xxiii. 1,2. “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” — Rev* vii. 17- 2. The marks of the good shepherd, (I.) He enter eth by the door. You may be surprised at this. Is not Christ himself the door? How can he enter by himself? Ans. It was just by himself that he entered. Compare Heb. ix. 12, ••’ By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,” with x. 19, 20, “Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us through the veil» that is to say, his flesh*” Christ himself entered in by this way to the Father, namely, by his own blood; and by this way every faithful servant of Christ enters in: “He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” O that God would raise up many such in Scotland — men who have entered in by the door into the sheepfold — men who can speuk of sin because they have felt it — of pardon because it is sweet to them.

(2.) He calleth his oicn sheep by name. In the east country, the shepherd frequently speaks to his sheep. He calls upon them, and they hear and know his voice. So is it with Christ. He is not a stranger shepherd nor a hneling. He calls his own sheep by name. This intimates — lst His knowledge of them. When Zaccheus, a lost and wandering sheep, was straying far away from the fold, Jesus called him by his name: “Zaccheus, come down.” When Nathanael wa& V7ai[i€mi^MTi<&x Ihfi £^ tree, Christ saw him, and called him by his name. When Mary did .not knoV Jesus, he said unto her, ‘’^Mary: she turned herjielf and saith unto him, Rabboni.” Christ, knows all in this congregation who are his. He could name them orer. He does often name them. Man does not know you — ministers do not — you may not know yourself; but Christ knows you. He calleth his own sheep by name. 2^ He deals in a very endearing manner with his own she. This is implied. When you love a person, you love his name — it has music in it. So Christ loves to call his own sheep by name. He loves the name of those for whom he died. He holds sweet and daily communion with them. 3dy He cJianges their nature. When Abram became a believer, Christ gave him a new name; so with Peter. So, when the Jews are brought to Christ, it is said, “Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” — Isa. lxii. 2. “But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that redeemed thee, 0 Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name: thou art mine.” — Isa. xliii. 1. “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my G<ifd, which is the New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” — Rev. iii. 1 2.

If one of you were brought to Christ this day, you would get a new heart and a new name. You would no more bo called worldling — swearer — drunkard — wanton; but disciple — child of God — heir of glory — Christian indeed. Has Christ called you by your name?

3. He goeth before them. He did so while on earth. He went through all that he calls us to follow him in. He went before us in faith and holiness. He went before us in labours of love — in reproaches — in necessities — in sufferings — in death. He does not ask you to go through anything that he did not go through. He still goes before his sheep; often unseen, often unfelt and unheeded, but still present. He will not leave you orphans: “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee,” — Isa, xliii. 2. Mf dear friends I aie you foUowixvg 3esv]A^ ^f»A

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•hepberd, or a stranger? Ahl flee from strangenu Flee from the company of the world, where you cannot hear the Toice of Jesus. It is not safe to he there. Flee from those booses where the Toice of Jesus is not beard, but the voice of strangers. Follow Jesus. Keep your eye on the Master. Believe on him, and do not let him go.