The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 79

with the thief, nnd then with the hireling. Jn this verse the contrMt is with the thief. 'l'ho thief comes to steal, taking away the sheep from its proper owner. The thief comos to kill, taking awny from the sheep all further use antl enjoyment of its own life. 'l'ho thief comes to destroy, ravaging through the fold in pure malice and wantonness, killing the sheep, not for food, but just through devilish delight in inflicting injury. The ehephord comes to nourish and protect the sheep. Ho leads it by the green 1mstures and still waters. It shall have the very best, and then it must make the very best of it. So Jesus comes to give and maintain life; end what he proposes he actually performs. Whorovcr olse there may be injury, death, destruction, decay, from Jesus there comes life, and nothing but life. Thus we must look at owr deficiencies vn respect to life, W o do not live as Jesus lives; we know not the consecration, the devotion, tho purity, the self-abnegation, that belonged to him. The sheep need a shepherd becauso they have not in themselves the resources whereby to provide for themselves and protect themselves. The life-giving fulness of Jesus must, therefore, be considered in contrast with the natural deficiencies of men. Listen to other voices, which try to say in their measure that they have come that we might have life. I. LISTEN TO THE FOOD-GIVING EARTH. Rather to those innumerable products of the earth which God has given for the maintenance of human life. Every field of grain, every orchard, every plot of earth where anything grows that is good for support of man, all may join in one great chorus of proffered service. "We have come that thou mayest have life." But then they speak equally to the lower creation. The fowls of the air sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; while in the sweat of his face man has to eat bread. Then the supply is limited. When every wilderness has been turned into a fruitful field, and every fruitful field has its powers developed to the utmost, the supply will still be limited. Then above every other consideration is that of the difference between man and beast. Man wants a higher life than any visible thing can nourish. When nature can do least, grace can do most. When the visible comes back in impotence, the invisible comes forward in the fulness of its strength. Jesus will give heights and depths of joy that no combination of natural ministries can ever afford. Men who really want to enjoy life and drink its pleasures to the last drop, know not what they lose in neglecting Christ. II. LISTEN TO THE Am WE DKEATHE. It says, "I am come that ye might have life." To be just a few minutes without it means death. The air of heaven is nearer to an unconditional gift than anything we know. Yet when that air puts out its full force it is the destroying tempest. Notice also how it gets subtly mixed with all manner of cor- rnptions and poisonous elements. Wherever we go we must breathe such air as we find. We cannot take about with us a special stock of pure air for our own use. But those who are willing to take the gift of Jesus in all its purity and energy may have it so. III. LISTEN TO THE PARENTAL RELATION. An infant left utterly untended would be dead in twenty-four hours. And when we see the love, the constant watchfulness and forethought of parents and guardians, when we consider the necessity of all this and the good results of it, we should be led to have similar grateful thoughts with respect to the ministry of Jesus in sustaining spiritual life. Spiritual infancy, as much as natural, means weakness, dependence, need of constant love and care. How plain it ought to be that God will provide for the days of helplessness in his own spiritual childrenl-Y. Ver. 11.-'l'he good Shepherd. L THE INFORMATION GIVEN TO us. \Ve may ourselves be very ignorant of sheep and shepherding ; and what should wo know of Eastern customs? Ilence it is well to study the information given in the first five verses of this chapter. We are to imagine a large fold whore a great number of sheep are gathered together. At the door of the fold a man is stationed to keep guard, chiefly, as one may Huppose, to prevent tL.c, entrance of unauthorized persons. For the sheep within do not constitute one flock. They are not the property of one person. The fold has been mado for the common advantage. Each shepherd could not afford to make a fold for himself nnd employ n doorkeeper of his own. Imagine, then, some shepherd having a hundred sheep. He has been out with them all day, watching them and leading them from pasture to pastnre. 'l'hen at night he brings them to the common fold and le:1ves them with the doorkecpor. Nei.:t morning he retnr1:1s to take therp. out for the day; JOIIN-U. G  82 'L'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING 'L'O ST. JOHN. [en. I. 1-42.