I Know My Sheep

A Sermon on John 10:22-42

Who knows you best? Of all the people in your life, who knows you the best? Is it your spouse? Perhaps a mother or father, a brother or sister? Who knows what you are thinking even before you say it? Who can predict the things you do? Who can finish your sentences for you? Who knows you better than anyone else? Who knows you best?

What about God? Was God part of your answer? In today’s reading, Jesus says, “I know my sheep.” He says, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Today, we talk about what it means to be known by Christ. He is our Good Shepherd and we are his sheep. However, how well does Jesus really know us? How well does the Good Shepherd know his sheep?

It‘s interesting how an earthly shepherd can actually perceive the many distinct differences between his sheep. He knows his sheep very well. We may think that all sheep are basically the same. We may think that while sheep come in all different shapes and sizes, for the most part, if you have seen one sheep, you’ve seen them all.

However, think about how well you know your pets. If you have a pet, I’ll bet that you know them pretty thoroughly. Dogs and cats may come in all different shapes and sizes, but they also each come with a unique personality and distinct individual traits.

For example, I have three cats. (I used to have five cats, but that’s another story for another time.) I have had these three cats for over ten years. They are a mother and two daughters. However, each cat is totally different and unique. They each have a distinct character and personality. They have different habits and quirks.

My point is that if you spend a lot of time with an animal, you learn a lot about them. I know those cats like they were my children. And the same is true for shepherds. They know their sheep. That one over there likes to stray. That one over there gets tired all the time and feels like quitting. That one is always getting into trouble. That one is a good leader and helps out with the others.

You see, each sheep has its own personality; it has different strengths and weaknesses. And a good shepherd will know all these different things about his sheep. In the same way, Jesus says, “I know my sheep.” He says, “I know what your personality is like. I know all of your quirks. I know your strengths and weaknesses. I know you inside and out.”

Now, that can be a scary thought. Our whole life is an open book to our Shepherd. He knows all of our thoughts and desires. He knows all those things we keep to ourselves; he knows all those deep secrets we try to cover up; he knows all those awful things we do not want anyone to find out about. Jesus knows every thought you have ever had, every word you have ever spoken, every deed you have ever done. And that can be frightening.

At this point, we may begin to think, “If Jesus knows me that well, then he knows how I really am. I am a sinful, fallen creature. I struggle so much in my spiritual life. I sin every day. I do what I know is wrong. I’m not the kind of person God wants me to be.” We now begin to realize, “If all this is really true, then I am lost! I’m going to hell. I deserve to be punished for my sins. There is no way that the Lord would ever want me if he knows all these things about my life.”

It is true that Jesus knows you. He knows you better than you know yourself. But instead of rejecting and punishing you, Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down my life for my sheep. I know sheep and give them eternal life. No one can snatch them out of my hand.” Isn’t that amazing? Instead of rejecting us, the Good Shepherd lays down his life for us. He dies for you on that cross. He dies for you and me and for all the lost sheep of the whole world.

Do earthly shepherds normally lay down their life for their sheep? Do they give their life to protect their animals? Do they sacrifice themselves to save their sheep? The answer is “No.” Now certainly, a shepherd will do his best to fight off any predator, but no one is going to die for some animal. I’m not going to die on behalf of my cats. Nevertheless, this is exactly what the Good Shepherd did for us. He sacrifices himself so that we might live. He takes upon himself the punishment we deserve. He suffers in our place. He sacrifices himself on behalf of the lost sheep. Jesus died for sinners.

And because Jesus laid down his life for you, you can stop worrying that God is going to punish you for your sins. The Son of God has already paid that price. He has suffered our punishment. Therefore, our sins are forgiven, both now and forevermore. And in case you have any doubts about this, remember that Christ rose from the dead. That is all the proof you need. You can now be reassured that you really are forgiven, totally and absolutely. The resurrection of Christ is God’s absolution of the world.

When God the Father now looks at you, he sees a forgiven sinner. You are covered with the righteousness of Christ. You are justified by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The Good Shepherd now says, “You are a part of my flock. My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand.” The risen Lord now sees you as a dearly loved sheep. You belong to his flock. You are his sheep, and he watches over and takes care of you, both now and forevermore.

Today, the Shepherd is calling to you. He calls you by name. He says, “You are mine! Now come and follow me.” Your job now is to listen to his voice as he calls and to follow him in faith. He goes before us, and we follow him wherever he may go. At times, he may lead us to joyful places, to times that are good and full of celebration. However, we may also go through the dark valley of sadness and tears. Sometimes we experience those difficult times that put our faith to the test.

We experience loss and death. Friends and family members pass away. We go through the valley of the shadow of death. During such dark times, we may begin to think to ourselves, “No one knows what I’m going through right now. No one knows how I feel. I’m all alone in this valley of sadness and tears.”

But that is when the Good Shepherd says, “I know my sheep and I know exactly what you are going through. I know what you are dealing with right now. I know and I care. And I will help you to bear your burden. I will wipe away your tears and will lift up your heart. And I promise that I will never leave you or forsake you. You are mine forevermore!”

When we follow our loving Good Shepherd, we trust that our life is in his hands, those hands that were nailed to the cross. Our Shepherd holds us close to his heart in love. Therefore, we follow him wherever he leads us. We may go through the darkest of valleys, but we trust him and hear his voice calling us.

Now it’s true: We may not always understand why things happen the way they do. We may at times be confused and at a loss to make sense of it all. But let’s face it – do sheep ever really understand what is going on? Most of the time, the flock has no idea why their shepherd is taking them to this particular pasture or why he is leading them to these specific waters. The sheep have no idea, but the shepherd knows. He knows his sheep and he wants what is best for them. So too, our Good Shepherd always watches over us and he wants the best for us.

Remember, the Good Shepherd loves you. He loves with a total love that caused him to lay down his life for you. And he promises to lead you to green pastures and to bring you beside the still waters. He restores your soul with the forgiveness of sins and he leads you in the path of righteousness. And even if we go through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil because the risen Lord is with us each day. He wipes away our tears and lifts up our hearts. He strengthens us spiritually with his abundant grace. His mercy overflows and runneth over.

The risen Christ is with us as we journey through this earthly life. He goes with us and leads the way. He calls us by name and we follow him in faith. And the Lord’s promise to you today is that he knows you and loves you and promises that you have eternal life in him. You belong to the Lord who died for you. He has redeemed you with his blood and he claims you as his very own. No one can now snatch you out of his hand. You are safe in his loving and tender care.

Therefore, rejoice and sing. Follow your Shepherd and listen to his call. Live by faith and trust in him. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” Amen!