Here we go back into Ecclesiology, the study of the church. Our plan is to look at the relationship between Christ and His church by studying seven figures of that relationship, the first being the Shepherd and the Sheep. Last time we looked at the expression He entereth in by the door. Today, we look at He calleth his own sheep in the gospel of John, chapter 10:
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
We last touched on discerning the will of God and the benefits of knowing the door. But even grander is the voice of God. With the voice of God comes the presence of God. And with the presence of God comes an innumerable flood of blessings: His peace, His healing. His glory, His holiness, His power, His protection, and the list goes on and on.
There are two aspects of a relationship. Two can be related, but have no relationship. Two can have a relationship but not be related. God help us that we fall not under either of these categories. In the first sense, there is a relation between the sheep and the shepherd no matter what the relationship may be. One may be saved and that makes you a sheep and Christ your shepherd. (1 Peter 2:25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. When someone gets saved, they’re brought into the fold. It’s a matter of standing. You’re a sheep and he’s your shepherd whether you understand that or not. But that doesn’t mean you know and understand fully the shepherd. That takes time. For some, maybe not. For some, maybe never. You may be perfectly related to one another, but lacking in a relationship.
So this verse has three aspects to it that I’d like to look at: (John 10:3) To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
- The sheep hear his voice
- He calleth them by name
- He leadeth them out
Even so, there is another aspect to the text: To him the porter openeth. You have the shepherd and the sheep, but there is another person in there, the porter! Who is that? Let’s get through the meat first, and maybe another day look at the porter.
The sheep hear his voice
The sheep have ears. Seems like a simple fact, but has much implications. Ears are for hearing. They’re for listening. The Bible says (Revelation 2:7) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. So being a sheep, you are equipped with ears; ears to hear what God is saying. Then God has ears too. (Isaiah 59:1) Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: So what do you know? Both the shepherd and the sheep have ears.
Now a relationship implies therefore a two-way communication. I always wonder at people that don’t understand that. Have you ever had a conversation with someone that has no ears? They do all the talking. They’re absolutely not interested in anything you have to say. The only way you can get a word in is if you violently interrupt them. I often wonder how do these people talk with God? Do they ever let God get a word in?
I remember I knew this one person that had a curious habit of negating everything I said. Even if they agreed with me, they’d still figure out a way to say No, blah blah blah or Not even that, blah blah blah. And then I noticed that it was this chronic habit. Every person, every conversation, every time, it was no, no, no. And I wondered, Is this how your relationship with God goes? You don’t ever agree with anything anybody says. Do you ever agree with God? So I wonder about people that just cannot listen for a few seconds to other people. Do they ever listen to God? I have a hard time taking seriously someone who talks about hearing the voice of God, but takes no time to hear the the voice of their brother, sister, friend, or neighbor.
Praying, talking to God, is important. But there has got to be two-way communication in order for there to be a relationship. I’ll never forget what Paul said at the beginning of Hebrews. (that is if Paul wrote the letter to Hebrews) If you strip out all the prepositional phrases or what have you and just leave the subject, verb, and object, Hebrew 1:1 says this: God… hath spoken unto us… And then later on in the letter it says (Hebrews 3:15) To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts… I love the account of the two walking on the road to Emmaus with the Lord Jesus. The Bible says (Luke 24:14) And they talked together… And then it goes to say that the two agreed (Luke 24:32) Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way…? He talked with us. How’s this: Prayer ascension must be accompanied by paying attention?
He calleth by name
One good indication of a relationship between two is when they know each other’s name. There’s some people I know that never get my name right. The reason for that is simple. There’s no real relationship there. I’m not complaining. It’s just the way things work. When you spend much time with someone, you tend to remember their name better. When you put much thought to someone, you tend to remember their name. (Psalm 40:5) Many, O LORD my God, are… thy thoughts which are to us-ward… if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. If our good shepherd knows our name, the he must have many thoughts toward us. (Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
I don’t know if a sheep can actually discern his name, however. In an article, Sheep are far smarter than previously thought, Professor Jenny Morton, a Neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, said this:
They are quite intelligent animals – they seem to be able to recognize people and even respond when you call their name.
They may be trainable. I can’t imagine what could be accomplished sitting all day and night with your sheep out in the fields. But I think one thing of signification to this is the individuality of the relationship. My name is not the same as your name. Therefore, my relationship with the Good Shepherd is not the same as your relationship. We ought not be envious of other people’s relationship with God. We ought to strive and endeavor to know God more, but this is not a competition. Don’t judge your relationship with God by other’s. Sure, we ought to learn from others. But the character of your relationship with God that you forge together will never be the same as someone else’s and shouldn’t be. I think what is most important is to learn to hear when our name is called.
Now is this an audible voice we hear? An opening in the heavens? Accompanied with lightening and thunder? I think the whole point here is that the shepherd communicates with his sheep within the natural senses of the sheep. I believe God has made us in a way that we understand Him. We may have a sinful nature, but in the garden, God walked and talked with his creation. He made us that way. I think about Gideon. There were so many signs and wonders and amazing experiences: the angel, fire from heaven, dew on the fleece, dew on the ground. But it was that barley bread that spoke to Gideon. Gideon was a poor farmer. And barley was the least of breads. Barley wheat is what Gideon knew. God spoke to him within his senses and understanding. He’ll do the same for you.
He calleth his own sheep by name? Maybe you’ve had a hard time with this. You’re not alone. But I’m looking forward to that wonderful day when there will be no more doubts. (1 Corinthians 13:12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I’ll be There!
He leadeth them out
Remember, I’m just jotting down what comes to mind. I really don’t know where to start on something like this. Talk about feeling inadequate. Brother Marion Atkinson will spend 5 days on the word leadeth. And I can’t think of one thing to say. All I can think of is Bilbo Baggins, “I’m going on an adventure!” Since we’re looking at this regarding the relationship between Christ and his church, then we see the relationship of the leader and the follower. When we were children, we played Follow the Leader. Isn’t it strange how the high calling of walking with God can be but a child’s game? I wonder at the simplicity of just knowing your place in this relationship.
When you are in a place of leadership, it can be very stressful. There’s deadlines. There’s financial limitations. There’s got to be a plan. Someone has to work the plan. There’s setbacks. Problems. Failures. Mistakes. All this falls on the leader’s shoulders. Don’t forget the #1 rule of leadership. I wonder, perhaps much of our stress in life is due to us trying to lead God. I mean if we are the follower, the one who is supposed to be content in following, then why all the discontent? I thought God said (Philippians 4:6-7) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Why so much anxiety about where this thing is going if we are not the leader? On this journey, the relationship is that of a leader and a follower. It’s a relationship of trust. Whether it be green pastures, or still waters, varying paths of righteousness, and even the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil. We trust him. It should be a journey of peace. (Isaiah 26:3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
So perhaps anxiety and malcontent comes from a distrust of the leader, or a dissatisfaction in the places that he leads. This speaks to us of a relation without a relationship; a shepherd and a sheep, yet a restless flock. Or maybe, God forbid, it comes from a relationship without a relation; a scattered sheep without a shepherd. You’re going where all the other sheep are going thinking that the shepherd is up ahead, but he’s not. The grass is not green. The water is not still. You fear the valley. You can hear the wolves. Your concern and anxiety is warranted and legitimate. But there is no relation; a sheep without a shepherd. God forbid. (1 Peter 2:25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
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