John 10:27-28 – His Sheep

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.” (John 10:27-28)

I don’t often think of myself as a sheep, but when I read and reflect on this verse I want to be one. Well, at least I’d like to be as Jesus describes them. To be totally devoted to Jesus is how I want to live my life, and this verse has some great promises.

Context: In Chapter 10 of John’s gospel, Jesus has identified himself as the “Good Shepherd.” It would have been a very interesting comparison back in those days because shepherds were not revered highly in society. Yet, the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep would have been unique and almost intimate. These verses follow that discussion when the people were pressuring Jesus to confirm he was the Messiah. His response is priceless and worth memorizing.

Sheep listen to their master’s voice and can distinguish it from all other voices. With all the noise in our world today and messages screaming for our attention, I want to be like a sheep and focus only on Jesus’ voice, the message of truth. Those who don’t know Jesus, don’t realize they are missing out on such a revelation.

Who are you following? With the rise of social media, for example, there are so many options of people we can follow. These earthly people don’t necessarily have our best interests in mind. I’m not here to point fingers or make assumptions about their intentions or motivations. But I do know that the temptation is real to listen to people and neglect the one who is the truth.

Jesus’ reward is so much greater than anything anyone else could be offering. Eternal life is such a precious gift. Why do we let the “shiny things” of the world attract and distract us? The answer will be different for each of us. Maybe it’s time to stop and regroup. Reread these verses and let them truly sink in.

What jumps off the page for me is the final promise. As Jesus’ sheep, he won’t let anything snatch me away from him. That’s so comforting and reassuring. The world is full of bad things that can happen. The evil one is crafty and always looking for ways to entice us. Yet if we claim to be sheep, we have Jesus’ hedge of protection around us. We belong to Jesus.

Let’s pray. Father God, I am thrilled to be your child. I yearn to hear your voice and follow you all the days of my life. Give me the courage I need to defend myself against the evil one. May my faith be transparent for the world to see. Show me, Lord, those places you want me to serve you. Thank you for keeping me safe and secure. I look forward to eternity with you. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.