True Sheep Respond to the Voice
of
The
Shepherd
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Original Message ----- From: luke19v10 To: AdventistHotIssues@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, May 08,
2011 12:18 PM Subject: [AdventistHotIssues] The True Sheep Respond to the Voice
of the Shepherd November 27, 1893 The True
Sheep Respond to the Voice of the Shepherd. By Mrs. E. G. White. "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. And
other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also must I bring, and
they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
Shepherd." {ST, November 27, 1893 par. 1} In the East it is the custom of the
shepherd to name his sheep, and as the sheep learn their names, they respond
to the voice of the shepherd. The shepherd goes before them and leads them
out, guiding them from the fold to the pasture. The sheep recognize the voice
of the shepherd and follow him. Jesus declared himself to be the true
shepherd, because he gave his life for the sheep. He says; "Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it
again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down
of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.
This commandment have I received of my Father." {ST,November
27, 1893 par. 2} Jesus spoke these words in the hearing
of a large concourse of people, and a deep impression was made upon the
hearts of many who listened. The scribes and Pharisees were filled with
jealousy because he was regarded with favor by
many. Among the multitude were also rulers, who were deeply impressed as they
listened to his important words. While he represented himself as the True
Shepherd, the Pharisees said, "He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye
him?" But others distinguished the voice of the True Shepherd, and
said:-- {ST, November 27, 1893 par. 3} "These are not the words of him
that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? And it was at
Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in
the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said
unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us
plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not; the works that
I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and
no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are
one." {ST, November 27, 1893 par. 4} With what firmness and power he uttered
these words. The Jews had never before heard such words from human lips, and
a convicting influence attended them; for it seemed that divinity flashed
through humanity as Jesus said, "I and my Father are one." The
words of Christ were full of deep meaning as he put forth the claim that he
and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same attributes. The
Jews understood his meaning, there was no reason why they should
misunderstand, and they took up stones to stone him. Jesus looked upon them
calmly and unshrinkingly, and said, "Many good
works have I showed you from my Father; for which of these works do ye stone
me?" {ST, November 27, 1893 par. 5} The Majesty of heaven stood, calmly
assured, as a god before his adversaries. Their scowling faces, their hands
filled with stones, did not intimidate him. He knew that unseen forces,
legions of angels, were round about him, and at one word from his lips they
would strike with dismay the throng, should they offer to cast upon him a
single stone. He stood before them undaunted. Why did not the stones fly to
the mark?--It was because divinity flashed through humanity, and they
received a revelation, and were convicted that his were no common claims.
Their hands relax and the stones fall to the ground. His words had asserted
his divinity, but now his personal presence, the light of his eye, the
majesty of his attitude, bore witness to the fact that he was the beloved Son
of God. {ST, November 27, 1893 par. 6} Had the Pharisees misunderstood his
words, he could and would have corrected their wrong impression. He could
have told them that he was no blasphemer, although he had called himself the
Son of God, and that his words need not necessarily mean that he had invested
himself with divine prerogatives, and made himself equal with the Father. But
he made no such statement. The impression they had received was the very
impression he desired to make. Jesus answered them: "Is it not written
in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of
God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken; say ye of Him, whom the Father
hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest;
because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father,
believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works;
that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him."
Again the hatred and the wrath is stirred within the breast of the Jews, and
they sought "to take him; but he escaped out of their hand, and went
away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and
there he abode. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle;
but all things that John spake of this man were
true. And many believed on him there. - {ST, November 27, 1893 par. 7} |