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.
Since the world began was it not heard
that any man opened the eyes of one
that was born blind.
If this man were
not of God, he could do nothing. They
answered and said unto him, Thou wast
altogether born in sins, and dost thou
teach us? And they cast him out.
Jesus heard that they had cast him
out; and when he had found him, he
said unto him, "Dost thou believe on
"the Son of God?" He answered and
said, Who is he, Lord, that I might be-
lieve on him? And Jesus said unto
him, "Thou hast both seen him, and it
"is he that talketh with thee." And he
said, Lord, I believe. And he worship-
ped him. And Jesus said, "For judg-
"ment I am come into this world, that
"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

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no sin: but now ye say, We see; there"fore your sin remaineth.

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'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.

Ꮓ

177

178 THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

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"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 parable 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 "the door: by me if any man enter in,

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he shall be saved, and shall go in and

'out, and find pasture. The thief com"eth not, but for to steal, and to kill, "and to destroy: I am come that they

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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"ther knoweth me, even so know I the "Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which

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are not of this fold: them also I must "bring, and they shall hear my voice;

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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

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'down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I "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.

Luke x. 17.

xi. 13.

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'AND the seventy returned again with 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, I give unto you power to tread on serpents 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

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rather rejoice, because your names are "written in heaven."

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