The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 70

creation. The old and the new. He made them first. men, and then Christians-new crcnturee in himsdf. 'l'hey Rre his workmanship. (2) By a Divine gift. "The Fnther, which gavo them me." They are the gifts of his Father's love, given to him in trust for tho purpose of salvation. (3) By purchase. He laid down his life for them; redeemed them from the curse of the Law and from sin. (4) By support. They arc not merely his workmanship, but the sheep of his pasture. They are his. 2. The1; ar, his special property. Special: (1) .As they were purchased. His dominion is vast nnd wide; it ruleth over all. The universe is his estate, his property is infinite. But believers are his only "purchased possession." (2) As they are very valuable. 'l'heir value Cl\n be to some extent estimated from the infinite price given for them-the precious blood of Christ. He knew their value when he made the purchase. .As such they are his special treasures, his jewels. (3) .As they are very useful. The sheep is one of the most useful animals of the fields. Its flesh is food, and its fine wool is gar- ment. Believers are useful, and valuable because useful. Sheep in the East wern the most useful property. What would be the richest pasture without sheep to graze it? What would the world be without man-what ita scenea without an eye, and its music without an ear? What would man be without faith in Christ and without godliness? The spiritual in man would be a power for evil. The soul would be barren, aud the earth morally would be a desert, and would, as in the time of Noah, be utterly destroyed. Immanuel's land would be useless without the sheep. I!. SOME OF THEIR OHABAOTEBIBTICS IN RELATION TO CHRIST. 1. "They near his voice." '1.;his implies: (1) Recognitirm of his voice. In the religious world there are many voices-that of the stranger, the thief, and the hireling. It is a Babel of sounds, and Christ's voice is imitated. But believers recognize the voice of Jesus amidst all, and they recognize it as the voice of the Son of God and their Saviour. (2) Special atten- tion to his voice. They not merely distinguish and know it as his, but attend and hear; and to them it is particularly sweet and charming-like the sound of pardon to the condemned, the sound of health to the sick, or the sound of the trump of jubilee to the captives in the land of Israel of old. Even all the golden harps of heaven could not produce such a sweet music, and they listen with attention and rapturous delight. (3) Willing acceptation by faith of his teaching. His voice does not die away in music and end in mere rapturous feelings. But its teaching.sinks deep in the mind, produces genuine faith in the heart, and full and hearty acceptation and assent in the whole soul. 2. "They follow him." The hearing results in following. 'l'his implies: (1) .An acl,:now- ledgment of his leadership. "They follow me." This is a practical acknowled.gment of his right and fitness in every respect to lead. They have every confidence in him, and they fully trust and believe and obey. .And they ought; for he is a Leader and Com- mander of the people-the greatest Leader of all ages, the only Leader and Shepherd of souls. (2) A practical proof of his influence over them and their adherence to him. "They follow." Why? Because he attracts them. It is the attraction of bis Person, character, doctrine, life, love-the attraction of food to the hungry; they are not driven, but drawn; they are filled, and they follow;. they are impelled and attracted. (3) .An acknowledgment of their relative position. Christ leads and they follow. The Master first, then the disciples. This is the natural and Divine order. Peter once wished to reverse it. He impulsively wanted to lead, but he was peremptorily ordered to the rear. "Get thee behind me." The shepherd is to be in front, the sheep behind. They gen~rally do, and ought to, observe the proper order. (4) Constant progression towards his life. "'l'hey follow me." He writes a copy, and they imitate. He com- mands, and they obey. He goes before, and they follow. They are never at a stand- still, but follow him whithersoever he goeth. The Christian life is not rest here, but a continual movement after and towards Christ. He is the mark, and his disciples press on towards it, and they get nearer every day. III. Tm: BLESSINGS THEY ENJOY IN RELATION TO CHB~T. 1. His recognit-ion of them. "I know the10.n (1) His recognition of them is perfect.. He knows them better than they know themselves, and before they know him. "Defore Philip called thee," etc. He knows their outward circumstances and difficulties, their inward and 1·ea\ chnrncter, temptations and dangers. He knows them personally and individually. Not only he knows the flock generally, but he knows every sheep individually, and can call euch one by name. (2) His recognition of them is practical. He is not ashamed 72 'l'HE GOSPEL AOCORDING 'l'O ST. JOUN. [ell. x. 1-42,