Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on John 10:22-30.
My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).
Christ here says three things about his sheep:
First, they hear his
voice. The first
disciples could hear the audible voice of Christ. Believers now recognize the
voice of Christ in the Scriptures as they are read and taught. They recognize
that Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16). In 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Paul
commends the believers for receiving the preaching of the gospel “not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh
also in you that believe.”
Second, he knows them. The shepherd has an intimate
knowledge of his sheep. False professors hear Christ say to them in the end, “I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt 7:23). Christ has
known his sheep from eternity past: “those whom he did foreknow he did
predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).
Third, they follow him. Compare 10:4: “and the sheep follow
him.” Following is the language of discipleship (cf. Luke 9:23). This is basic
Christian language. It is not enough simply to say that one is a Christian.
This will be shown in how one follows the Shepherd.
Calvin says, “the reason the name of sheep is applied to
believers is, that they surrender themselves to God, to be governed by the hand
of the Chief Shepherd, and, laying aside the fierceness of their nature, become
mild and teachable.”
Grace and peace, Pastor
Jeff Riddle
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