176 THE HARISEES QUESTION AND CAST OUT now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing. that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners but if any man be a worshipper of God THE MAN WHO WAS BORN BLIND. and doeth his will, him he heareth. Jesus heard that they had cast him 66 66 they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." And some of the pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see ; there'fore your sin remaineth. 66 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He "that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other "way, the same is a thief and a robber. 66 Ꮓ 177 178 THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. "But he that entereth in by the door is "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. “And a stranger will they not follow, "but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." This pa 66 rable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the "door of the sheep. All that ever came "before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am 66 the door: by me if any man enter in, "he shall be saved, and shall go in and 66 out, and find pasture. The thief com"eth 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. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giv"eth his life for the sheep. But he that "is an hireling, and not the shepherd, "whose own the sheep are not, seeth the "wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and JESUS DECLARES HIMSELF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 179 "fleeth and the wolf catcheth them, "and scattereth the sheep. The hireling "fleeth, because he is an hireling, and "careth not for the sheep. I am the "good shepherd, and know my sheep, "and am known of mine. As the Fa 66 ther knoweth me, even so know I the "Father: and I lay down my life for the "sheep. And other sheep I have which 66 are not of this fold: them also I must "bring, and they shall hear my voice; 66 66 and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 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 66 66 down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I 66 received of my Father." There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? SECTION VI. From the return of the Seventy Disciples,-to the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. 1Luke x. 17.-1AND the seventy returned again with xi. 13. joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, "I beheld Satan as "lightning fall from heaven. Behold, 66 66 66 'I give unto you power to tread on ser"pents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but "rather rejoice, because your names are I written in heaven." 66 66 66 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, "I thank thee, O Father, "Lord of heaven and earth, that thou "hast hid these things from the wise "and prudent, and hast revealed them |