The Sheep Follow Him – John 10
“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” — John 10:4
Sheep and shepherds were a very common sight in Israel. For that reason, Jewish leaders were often called shepherds. And the Lord, ultimately is the great shepherd (Psalm 23).
Borrowing from all of that background, Jesus describes Himself as “the good shepherd” who lays His life down for the sheep. The aspect of this I want to think about is the attitude of sheep toward the shepherd or of us to Christ.
John 10:4 says that when the true shepherd calls His sheep, they follow Him because they know His voice. This leads me to consider: Do I know the voice of my shepherd? Do I listen out for His voice? And do I follow Him when He calls?
My shepherd’s voice is found in the Word of God. As I read it, I know that He speaks to me. But I also need to follow Him as He calls me out. If I say that I know Him but do not follow, then I am a disobedient sheep.
What is Christ saying to you through the Bible? Are you and I listening and following like sheep should?