We see all the benefits from having a Good Shepherd like Jesus. Notice that these benefits all come from relationship. The sheep know and hear His voice. He calls the sheep by name. The sheep follow Him because they recognize His voice. Jesus also said that the “Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Later, He explained that He is laying down His life so that He can take it up again. In verse 18, Jesus said: “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own.” This is critically important. The world thinks that Jesus was a good teacher who threatened the powers that be and was tragically crucified. The truth is that Jesus got on the cross of His own free will. He came to Earth in order to die on the cross. This was His mission, to die on the cross and rise again. His life was not taken from Him. He laid it down on His own. He laid it down for us.
Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me …” Do you have a close enough relationship with the Lord that you know His voice? The sheep must spend time with the shepherd. They have to learn each other. We have to spend time with our shepherd as well. That means time in His Word and time in prayer.
Commit today to spending more time with God in His Word and in prayer daily.