Christ's doctrine of the atonement - Smeaton - XXII - Chapter 5 continued

Required reading
Christ's doctrine of the atonement by George Smeaton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 5 by reading Section XL.

My summary
This week Smeaton looks at the atonement in light of John 1011-18: '11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  12 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 fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  18 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.'

Firstly Smeaton examines the statements which elucidate the nature and character of the atonement:
(i) the Father commanded the laying down of the Son's life;
(ii) the Son's sacrifice was absolutely self-moved and voluntary.

Secondly Smeaton discusses the effects of the atonement from the passage:
(i) the son's glorification;
(ii) the purchase of the sheep.

What grabbed me
I liked Smeaton's point that an injury to the shepherd brought benefit for the sheep, not harm: 'Thus His death did not redound to the injury of the sheep, as it would have done in the case of the earthly shepherd. On the contrary, the surrender of life, and the resumption of it on Christ's part (ver. 17), were both conducive to the highest welfare of the sheep, and gave Him the legitimate right to become, in the full sense of the term, their Shepherd in point of fact. There was no cause to fear, lest, by the death of Christ, the sheep should be deprived of His protection, interest, and care. He took His life again, to be their everlasting Shepherd (ver. 18). '

Our shepherd's wounds are part of his qualifications to be our shepherd.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 5 by reading Sections XLI and XLII.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.