“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

John 10:14-16

As I read again and again these words of Jesus I am blessed, challenged and thankful.

The backdrop is Jesus announcing that he is the Good Shepherd.  I am a sheep among willing sheep.  This describes all of us, in all time and place.  We need a shepherd.  We are completely lost without one!

But the shepherd/sheep relationship does not full describe our place in redemption.  Our Good Shepherd knows his sheep and, the new thing, they know HIM!  We usually think of sheep as innocent, protected and helpless.  Not so with Jesus’ sheep!  They know their Shepherd and He knows them.  So, the simile is broken, these are sheep who are not just owned by Jesus but they are brought into fellowship with their Good Shepherd in a most amazing and intimate way.  Jesus knows his sheep and the sheep know Jesus!  Can it be simpler than that – and more glorious?  I think not.

I rejoice this morning sitting here in front of my computer in the year 2019, amazed all over again that Jesus is right here with me as I write these words and as I think and pray.  Is this not the most wonderful thing you ever heard?  It is for me, definitely.