Jesus Knows His Sheep and They Know Him - John 10:14

The apostle John wrote how Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep”, and in chapter ten and verse fourteen of his book John shared how Jesus said, “I … know my sheep, and am known of my sheep” where we read:

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of my sheep.

The verse reads, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, ...” John began with Jesus' words, “I am the good shepherd” which means “I, Jesus, exist as the beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable and honest herdsman whose care and control others have committed themselves and whose precepts they follow”, “and know my sheep” or “and understand, perceive and have knowledge of my, Jesus', four footed, tame animals which are accustomed to graze”. John shared how Jesus, as the excellent, choice and honest herdsman, told those listening to Him that He “understood and had knowledge of” His “sheep”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and am known of my sheep.” John continued with Jesus' words, “and am known” which means “and exist as being understood and perceived” “of my sheep” or “by my, Jesus', four footed, tame animals which are accustomed to graze”. John shared how Jesus said He is also “understood and perceived” by His own “sheep”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how Jesus again referred to Himself as the “Good Shepherd”, and He informed those listening to Him that He “knew” those who belonged to Him. He also told the people listening that those who “followed” Him also “knew” Him. This defines relationship with God, and this was the reason Jesus came into the world. God wants people to know Him, love Him and trust Him with their entire lives. When times are good and when they are bad He is concerned and cares for them. He knows them, and they know Him. This is available to every person who yields their life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words come to “know” “Jesus” who is indeed “the Good Shepherd”.

Next time John shares how Jesus says, “As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father", so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".