John 10:15

“Let me explain it to you this way,” Jesus says. “I already told you the Father knows me and I know the Father.  Well, it’s just like that. My sheep know me and I know my sheep. But it is simply because they are sheep, not all of which claim me as their leader, that I am willing to lay down my life to save them—all of them.”  John 10:15 EFP 

Jesus has a way with words…and he is not always easy to understand. It’s almost as if he is talking in riddles, at least to a twenty-first century mind. Jesus is trying to portray his relationship with his believers as one of a Good Shepherd and his sheep. In short, all the sheep are dependent on the Good Shepherd, but not all follow him, mostly because they are not used to recognizing his voice. The only way to ensure I will be safe is to become acquainted with the Good Shepherd’s voice, and follow it wherever it goes.

But now Jesus expands the concept to include the relationship between his heavenly Father and him. It is also defined as a relationship. The Father knows him and he knows the Father. This is not an acquaintance-type relationship, rather a close and intimate connection. It’s now simply knowing about the Good Shepherd, but knowing him personally.

In the end, Jesus reveals a God who claims all the sheep as His in terms of salvation. They have received the gift, but need to recognize it and receive it. Jesus was willing to die for all the sheep, he has made this clear before. In that sense they are all his sheep. But in the end, only those who follow Him will be saved. He sought and seeks after me because he loves me. It is his nature to love me. I follow him because I love him. It is not natural for me to love, but I respond to his gift to me. He know my heart—longing, searching, and following, but also a heart that all too often misses the mark. But only he knows the love that is in my heart—or the hypocrisy that masks my unwillingness to follow. God, help me!