The Real Sheep of the Good Shepherd

Once again Jesus uses the shepherd illustration to reveal what a true relationship with Jesus the Messiah looks like. So many people today say, “I know Jesus” when in reality they really don’t know Him at all, because they don’t have a real relationship with Him.
 
 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27–28, NASB95)
 
A real relationship with Jesus is reciprocal. His true followers hear His voice and they follow Him. As the real shepherd, Jesus knows his followers intimately and personally, He gives them eternal life and eternal security. The picture given to us in this illustration is a shepherd leading his flock out into the pasture lands and feeding them. The shepherd gives to His sheep the security of life without ever fearing the wolf or predator coming and taking the sheep from the flock. In fact, Jesus illustrates His power to save and keep safe as the sheep are held in the shepherd’s hand, showing ownership and control. How does Jesus keep us? Your life is hid together with Christ in God. “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” …“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1,3, NASB95)
 
There is also a negative side to this passage. Those who belong to Jesus the shepherd hear His voice and follow Him. And yet there are those who don’t hear His voice at all because they are not His sheep. They do not have life, provision or protection because they are not in the flock of the Good Shepherd. Jesus was addressing a group of religious leaders who thought they were in the flock of God as Jews, and they were not because they rejected Jesus. The fact that they didn’t hear or accept Jesus as the good shepherd was an indictment against them.
 
Do you hear the shepherd calling you? If you hear Him will you answer and follow Him? If you follow Jesus the Good Shepherd, He will lead you unto life eternal and no one will ever be able to take you out of His hand. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, that not only has the power to save you, but also the power to keep you and protect you from the evil one. 
 

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