John 10:1-6: a reflection

1“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.

Jesus describes himself as the true shepherd, who enters by the door, and the sheep as those who know him. And the details are tender: the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out; the sheep follow him, for they know his voice; and they will not follow a stranger, but flee from him, because they do not know the stranger's voice. It is a picture of intimate mutual knowing, the shepherd knowing each sheep by name, the sheep knowing his voice.

Notice both sides of this knowing. The Shepherd calls his own sheep by name; he does not deal with them as an anonymous flock but knows each one individually, personally, by name. And the sheep, for their part, know his voice, know it well enough to follow it and to recognize and flee from voices that are not his. There is a relationship here built on being personally known and on learning, over time, to recognize the Shepherd's own voice.

Both sides are for us. Christ knows you by name, not as one of an anonymous crowd but personally, individually; he calls you by name. And the call on us is to know his voice, to become so familiar with the Shepherd's voice, through his word, through prayer, through walking with him, that we can recognize it and follow it, and can tell it from the many stranger-voices that call for our attention and would lead us astray. Are you learning his voice well enough to follow it and flee the strangers'? Draw near to the Shepherd who knows you by name, and learn his voice.

Lord Jesus, you are the Shepherd who calls your own sheep by name, and your sheep know your voice and follow you. Thank you that you know me personally, by name, not as one of an anonymous crowd. Help me know your voice, becoming so familiar with it through your word and prayer that I can recognize it, follow it, and tell it from the stranger-voices that would lead me astray. Draw me near, and teach me to know your voice.