THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN
John 10:1 to 41; Luke 10:1 to 37
AFTER the cure of the man born blind, Jesus gave to the people in Jē̇-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm the parable or story of "The, Good Shepherd."
"Verily, verily (that is, "in truth, in truth"), I say to you, if any one does not go into the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, it is a sign that he is a thief and a robber. But the one who comes in by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. The porter opens the door to him, and the sheep know him, and listen to his call, for he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out to the pasture-field. And when he has led out his sheep, he goes in front of them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. The sheep will not follow a stranger, for they do not know the stranger's voice.”
The people did not understand what all this meant, and Jesus explained it to them. He said:
"Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door that leads to the sheepfold. If any one comes to the sheep in any other way than through me and in my name, he is a thief and a robber; but those who are the true sheep will not hear such. I am the door; if any man goes into the fold through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.
"The thief comes to the fold that he may steal, and rob the sheep and kill them; but I come to the fold that they may have life, and may have all that they need. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd will give up his life to save his sheep; and I will give up my life that my sheep may be saved.
`I am the good shepherd; and just as a true shepherd knows all the sheep in his flock, so I know my own, and my own know me, even as I know the Father, and the Father knows me; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are hot of this fold; them also I must lead, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
The Jews̝ could not understand these words of Jesus; but they became very angry with him, because he spoke of God as his Father. They took up stones to throw at him, and tried to seize him, intending to kill him. But Jesus escaped from their hands, and went away to the land beyond Jôŕ dan, at the place called Bĕth-ab́ a-rȧ, or "Bĕth́ a-ny̆ beyond Jôŕ dan," the same place where he had been baptized by Jŏhn the Băṕ tĭst more than two years before. From this place Jesus wished to go out through the land on the east of the Jordan, a land which was called "Pe-rḗ ȧ," a word that means "beyond." But before going out himself through this land, Jesus sent out seventy chosen men from among his followers to go to all the villages, and to make the people ready for his own coming afterward. He gave to these seventy the same commands that he had given to the twelve disciples, when he sent them through Găĺ ĭ-lee, and sent them out in pairs, two men to travel and to preach together. He said:
"I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no bag for food, no shoes except those that you are wearing. Do not stop to talk with people by the way; but go through the towns and the villages, healing the sick, and preaching to the people, ' The kingdom of God is coming.' He that hears you, hears me; and he that refuses you, refuses me; and he that will not hear me, will not hear him that sent me.”
And after a time the seventy men came again to Jesus, saying, "Lord, even the evil spirits obey our words in thy name!”
And Jesus said to them, "I saw Sā́ tan, the king of the evil spirits, falling down like lightning from heaven. I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions; and nothing shall harm you. Still, do not rejoice because the evil spirits obey, you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." And at that time, one of the scribes,—men who wrote copies of the books of the Old Testament, and studied them, and taught them,—came to Jesus and asked him a question, to see what answer he would give. He said, "Master, what shall I do to have everlasting life?”
Jesus said to the scribe, "What is written in the law? You are a reader of God's law; tell me what it says?”
Then the man gave this answer, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Jesus said to the man, "You have answered right; do this, and you shall have everlasting life.”
But the man was not satisfied. He asked another question, "And who is my neighbor?”
To answer this question, Jesus gave the parable or story of "The Good Sā̇-măŕ i-tan." He said, "A certain man was going down the lone road from Jé-rṳ́ sā̇-lĕm to Jĕŕ i-chō; and he fell among robbers, who stripped him of all that he had, and beat him; and then went away, leaving him almost dead. It happened that a certain priest was going down that road; and when he saw the man lying there, he passed by on the other side. And a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw the man, he, too, went by on the other side. But a certain Sā̇-măŕ ĭ-tan, as he was going down, came where this man was; and as soon as he saw him he felt a pity for him. He came to the man, and dressed his wounds, pouring oil and wine into them. Then he lifted him up, and set him on his own beast of burden, and walked beside him to an inn. There he took care of him all night; and the next morning he took out from his purse two shillings, and gave them to the keeper of the inn, and said, `Take care of him; and if you need to spend more than this, do so; and when I come again I will pay it to you.'
"Which one of these three do you think showed himself a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
The scribe said, "The one who showed mercy on him.”
Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do thou likewise.”
By this parable Jesus showed that "our neighbor" is the one who needs the help that we can give him, whoever he may be.
Lesson 20. The Good Shepherd and the Good Samaritan.
(Tell Story 25 in Part Sixth.)
1. What parable or story did Jesus tell while he was in Jerusalem? "The Good Shepherd.”
2. How did Jesus say the true shepherd goes into the sheepfold? By the door.
3. What did Jesus say of himself? "I am the door.”
4. What else did Jesus say of himself? "I am the good shepherd.”
5. What did Jesus say the good shepherd does for his sheep? He gives his life for them.
6. To what part of the country did Jesus go from Jerusalem? To Perea.
7. Where was Perea? East of the river Jordan.
8. What parable or story did Jesus tell a man in Perea? "The Good Samaritan.”
9. What did the good Samaritan do? He helped a man who was in need.
10. What did Mug say to the man to whom he told the story? "Go and do likewise.”