Dear Christian friends:

Our relationship with Jesus is so important and wonderful that the Holy Spirit in the Bible uses various pictures or ideas to help us understand and appreciate it: Vine and Branches; Bride and Bridegroom; Cornerstone and building stones. In our text Jesus uses the picture of Shepherd and sheep. Jesus is our Shepherd and we are His sheep.

That we may better appreciate our relationship with Jesus let us attend to our text and consider the topic:


First, we will see how we, the sheep, are related to Jesus, the Shepherd.

Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice." (verse 27) The word "hear" means to know or recognize the voice by its sound. Perhaps you are not aware of this because you do not hear sound. The sound of anyone's voice is different than someone else's. When a hearing person calls someone on the phone, he knows who is answering by the sound of his voice. When I phone to my home, I know who answers the phone by the sound of his/her voice. My wife's voice is different from my daughter's. Each person's voice has a special, peculiar sound.

Animals know the sound of the voice of their master. So also sheep know their shepherd's voice, the sound of his voice. The sheep may not be looking at the shepherd or see him but when he calls they immediately recognize his voice. Sheep become accustomed to their shepherd's voice, and they know his voice. When the shepherd calls they give attention and follow him. If a stranger calls them, they know that voice is different and they will not follow the stranger. (verses 3-5)

What lesson is Jesus trying to teach us here? Jesus is trying to teach us that no stranger, no false preacher, can deceive His people, His sheep. His people have heard the Gospel preaching many times: "God loves sinners. God sent His Son to die on the cross for sinners. God forgives to man his sins because of Jesus' death and resurrection. All who believe in Jesus are the children of God and have eternal life." This sweet Good News preaching is Jesus' voice. Even the deaf can hear Jesus' sweet voice through sign-language Gospel preaching. Jesus' sheep are familiar with the Good News preaching. They will not listen to anyone who preaches the law, tells people that they can become right before God by obeying the Ten Commandments and other laws. The law preachers scare people and make them feel guilty, and force people and tell them they will go to hell if they don't come to church every Sunday and pay the tithe. They have many church rules and laws about eating and drinking and smoking and playing cards or gambling, etc. When Jesus' sheep hear such preaching they flee away. They know that is not the sweet voice of their Good Shepherd.

So we are related to Jesus by His familiar voice. His voice we trust and believe as sheep trust and believe the shepherd's voice.

Therefore, it is important for us to hear Jesus' voice often and regularly. Then we will know the sound of His voice, and not be deceived by the stranger's voice, the false preacher. That means that we read our Bible often, come to Bible Class and attend the church services where we can hear and learn the true Gospel preaching.

Through hearing Jesus' voice, His Word, and by believing in Him we are related to Jesus our Good Shepherd. In our text Jesus also tells in a beautiful way how He is related to us.

Jesus says, "I know My sheep." (verse 27) Jesus knows each one of us who believe in Him.

In Jesus' time and in Israel today shepherds have small flocks. They know each sheep and one from the other one. Often they give each one a name. (verse 3) The sheep are the shepherd's pets. He loves them and will risk his life to protect them from wild animals or thieves. Like that Jesus knows each one of us individually. He knows our name. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. David, the Psalm writer says, "O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me." (Psalm 139:1) The Lord says, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are Mine." (Isaiah 43:1) Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life to save the sheep. (verses 11, 17, 18) We are His pets.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are His dear sheep. This should give us great comfort and hope, because nothing can break that relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep. Jesus says, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." Not even death can break our relationship with Jesus. We know that death breaks our friendships and relationships here on earth and we grieve and have great sadness. But death cannot break our relationship with Jesus our Good Shepherd. He gives us eternal life in heaven.

How can Jesus say that? He is same as God. He has all power. He is God's eternal Son. He says, "My Father gave them (the sheep) to Me and He is greater than all; and no man can pluck them out of My Father's hands. I and My Father are One." (verses 2-30)

Therefore, let us not fear death or any other evil or enemy. Jesus is our Good Shepherd and we are His dear sheep. Let us always hear His sweet voice and follow Him through this world of trouble and death, and have eternal life now on earth and forever in heaven.

Amen.