He Knows Us and We Know Him - John 10-12

 John 10:7-14 (ESV)

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

He knows us and we know Him.   Those who own an animal can relate a little to Jesus’ words in the above text.   Those who call to their dog can see an immediate response, because the dog knows the owner’s voice.  The stranger has little or no control over the animal.  Now, we are not animals, but Jesus point in the above words is to teach us about how Jesus knows us (as the shepherd) and we know Him (as the sheep).   The stranger will not be heard or take care of the sheep.  The stranger will run when danger comes.   Jesus is promising to keep us and protect us and talk to us.   He is the good shepherd who will lay His life down for the sheep.    We can rejoice in the voice, the care, and the sacrifice of the shepherd.  The world’s fake shepherds promise these things, but will eventually fail and even turn on us to become wolves in our lives.   Jesus is the good shepherd and promises to walk with us and care for us forever.   He knows us and we know Him.