Jesus Knows His Sheep

John 10:3 – “…he calleth his own sheep by name….”
John 10:14 – “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep….”

Our Savior said that a good shepherd calls his sheep by name and recognizes them individually. He looks upon His flock with kind concern, for each animal is unique in his sight. Reflecting upon these words of Christ in John 10, I am reminded of the parable of the lost sheep recorded in Luke 15. The shepherd noticed that one animal out of a hundred was missing. From what Jesus said in John 10, we can conclude that it wasn’t necessary for him to learn this by making a count. He realized immediately that a certain one was not in the fold, for he knew each of them well. He was so concerned that he went out at once to search for that lost sheep. When it was found and brought back to safety, his neighbors were invited to rejoice with him.

One of the distressing problems of our day is the impersonal nature of human relationships. Business firms and government bureaus are able to identify you more quickly by a group of assigned numerical figures than by your name or photograph. You are just a number to these organizations, not a face.

Jesus assures you, however, that with Him this is not the case. He tells you that He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for you, and says that He calls you by name. Think of that! Though millions of Christians pray each day, YOU can come to the Lord without the necessity of being identified by a series of numbers. He knows you personally, sees your needs, and responds in a distinct and wonderful way.