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that they which see might be made blind。〃 Christ had come to open the blind eyes； to give light to them that sit in darkness。 He had declared Himself to be the light of the world； and the miracle just performed was in attestation of His mission。 The people who beheld the Saviour at His advent were favored with a fuller manifestation of the divine presence than the world had ever enjoyed before。 The knowledge of God was revealed more perfectly。 But in this very revelation； judgment was passing upon men。 Their character was tested； their destiny determined。
The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness。 Some of His hearers； feeling that Christ's words applied to them； inquired； 〃Are we blind also？〃 Jesus answered； 〃If ye were blind； ye should have no sin。〃 If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth； your ignorance would involve no guilt。 〃But now ye say； We see。〃 You believe yourselves able to see； and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight。 To all who realized their need； Christ came with infinite help。 But the Pharisees would confess no need； they refused to come to Christ； and hence they were left in blindness；a blindness for which they were themselves guilty。 Jesus said； 〃Your sin remaineth。〃
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Chapter 52
The Divine Shepherd
〃I am the Good Shepherd： the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep。〃 〃I am the Good Shepherd； and know My sheep； and am known of Mine。 As the Father knoweth Me； even so know I the Father： and I lay down My life for the sheep。〃
Again Jesus found access to the minds of His hearers by the pathway of their familiar associations。 He had likened the Spirit's influence to the cool； refreshing water。 He had represented Himself as the light； the source of life and gladness to nature and to man。 Now in a beautiful pastoral picture He represents His relation to those that believe on Him。 No picture was more familiar to His hearers than this； and Christ's words linked it forever with Himself。 Never could the disciples look on the shepherds tending their flocks without recalling the Saviour's lesson。 They would see Christ in each faithful shepherd。 They would see themselves in each helpless and dependent flock。
This figure the prophet Isaiah had applied to the Messiah's mission； in the comforting words； 〃O Zion； that bringest good tidings； get thee up into the high mountain； O Jerusalem； that bringest good tidings； lift up thy voice with strength； lift it up； be not afraid； say unto the cities of Judah； Behold your God！ 。 。 。 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd： He shall gather the lambs with His arm； and carry them in His bosom。〃 Isa。 40：9…11。 David had sung； 〃The Lord is my shepherd；
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I shall not want。〃 Ps。 23：1。 And the Holy Spirit through Ezekiel had declared： 〃I will set up one Shepherd over them； and He shall feed them。〃 〃I will seek that which was lost； and bring again that which was driven away； and will bind up that which was broken； and will strengthen that which was sick。〃 〃And I will make with them a covenant of peace。〃 〃And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen； 。 。 。 but they shall dwell safely； and none shall make them afraid。〃 Ezek。 34：23； 16； 25； 28。
Christ applied these prophecies to Himself； and He showed the contrast between His own character and that of the leaders in Israel。 The Pharisees had just driven one from the fold； because he dared to bear witness to the power of Christ。 They had cut off a soul whom the True Shepherd was drawing to Himself。 In this they had shown themselves ignorant of the work committed to them； and unworthy of their trust as shepherds of the flock。 Jesus now set before them the contrast between them and the Good Shepherd； and He pointed to Himself as the real keeper of the Lord's flock。 Before doing this； however； He speaks of Himself under another figure。
He said； 〃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。〃 The Pharisees did not discern that these words were spoken against them。 When they reasoned in their hearts as to the meaning； Jesus told them plainly； 〃I am the door： by Me if any man enter in； he shall be saved； and shall go in and out； and find pasture。 The thief cometh not； but for to steal； and to kill； and to destroy： I am come that they might have life； and that they might have it more abundantly。〃
Christ is the door to the fold of God。 Through this door all His children； from the earliest times； have found entrance。 In Jesus； as shown in types； as shadowed in symbols； as manifested in the revelation of the prophets； as unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples； and in the miracles wrought for the sons of men； they have beheld 〃the Lamb of God； which taketh away the sin of the world〃 （John 1：29）； and through Him they are brought within the fold of His grace。 Many have come presenting other objects for the faith of the world； ceremonies and systems have been devised by which men hope to receive justification and peace with God； and thus find entrance to His fold。 But the only door is Christ； and all who have interposed something to take the place
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of Christ； all who have tried to enter the fold in some other way； are thieves and robbers。
The Pharisees had not entered by the door。 They had climbed into the fold by another way than Christ； and they were not fulfilling the work of the true shepherd。 The priests and rulers； the scribes and Pharisees； destroyed the living pastures； and defiled the wellsprings of the water of life。 Faithfully do the words of inspiration describe those false shepherds： 〃The diseased have ye not strengthened； neither have ye healed that which was sick； neither have ye bound up that which was broken； neither have ye brought again that which was driven away； 。 。 。 but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them。〃 Ezek。 34：4。
In all ages； philosophers and teachers have been presenting to the world theories by which to satisfy the soul's need。 Every heathen nation has had its great teachers and religious systems offering some other means of redemption than Christ； turning the eyes of men away from the Father's face； and filling their hearts with fear of Him who has given them only blessing。 The trend of their work is to rob God of that which is His own； both by creation and by redemption。 And these false teachers rob man as well。 Millions of human beings are bound down under false religions； in the bondage of slavish fear； of stolid indifference； toiling like beasts of burden； bereft of hope or joy or aspiration here； and with only a dull fear of the hereafter。 It is the gospel of the grace of God alone that can uplift the soul。 The contemplation of the love of God manifested in His Son will stir the heart and arouse the powers of the soul as nothing else can。 Christ came that He might re…create the image of God in man； and whoever turns men away from Christ is turning them away from the source of true development； he is defrauding them of the hope and purpose and glory of life。 He is a thief and a robber。
〃He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep。〃 Christ is both the door and the shepherd。 He enters in by Himself。 It is through His own sacrifice that He becomes 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。〃
Of all creatures the sheep is one of the most timid and helpless； and in the East the shepherd's care for his flock is untiring and incessant。
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Anciently as now there was little security outside of the walled towns。 Marauders from the roving border tribes； or beasts of prey from their hiding places in the rocks； lay in wait to plunder the flocks。 The shepherd watched his charge； knowing that it was at the peril of his own life。 Jacob； who kept the flocks of Laban in the pasture grounds of Haran； describing his own unwearied labor； said； 〃In the day the drought consumed me； and the frost by night； and my sleep departed from mine eyes。〃 Gen。 31：40。 And it was while guarding his father's sheep that the boy David； single…handed； encountered the lion and the bear； and rescued from their teeth the stolen lamb。
As the shepherd leads his flock over the rocky hills； through forest and wild ravines； to grassy nooks by the riverside； as he watches them on the mountains through the lonely night； shielding from robbers； caring tenderly for the sickly and feeble； his life comes to be one with theirs。 A strong and tender attachment unites him to the objects of his care。 However large the flock； the shepherd knows every sheep。 Every one has its name； and responds to the name at the shepherd's call。
As an earthly shepherd knows his sheep； so does the divine