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hem； 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 Shepherd know His flock that are scattered throughout the world。 〃Ye My flock； the flock of My pasture； are men； and I am your God； saith the Lord God。〃 Jesus says； 〃I have called thee by thy name； thou art Mine。〃 〃I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands。〃 Ezek。 34：31； Isa。 43：1； 49：16。
Jesus knows us individually； and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities。 He knows us all by name。 He knows the very house in which we live； the name of each occupant。 He has at times given directions to His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city； to such a house； to find one of His sheep。
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Every soul is as fully known to Jesus as if he were the only one for whom the Saviour died。 The distress of every one touches His heart。 The cry for aid reaches His ear。 He came to draw all men unto Himself。 He bids them； 〃Follow Me；〃 and His Spirit moves upon their hearts to draw them to come to Him。 Many refuse to be drawn。 Jesus knows who they are。 He also knows who gladly hear His call； and are r