GOOD SHEPHERD: I KNOW MY SHEEP

SATURDAY, 24TH JUNE, 2023.

By PASTOR DR. SAMUEL B. AYORINDE – General Overseer

TOPIC:  GOOD SHEPHERD: I KNOW MY SHEEP

MEMORIZE: "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." John 10:14

SCRIPTURE READING: John 10:14-16.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

EXPOSITION:

See here the grace and tenderness of the good Shepherd that makes him better than the hireling, as it was in the prophecy in Ezekiel 34:21-22 “Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.”: I am the good Shepherd. It is matter of comfort to the church, and all her friends, that, however she may be damaged and endangered by the treachery and mismanagement of her under-officers, the Lord Jesus is, and will be, as he ever has been, the good Shepherd. Here are two great instances of the shepherd's goodness. 

His acquainting himself with his flock, with all that belong or in any wise appertain to his flock, which are of two sorts, both known to him: He is acquainted with all that are now of his flock John 10:14-15, as the good Shepherd John 10:3-4: I know my sheep and am known of mine. There is a mutual acquaintance between Christ and true believers; they know one another very well, and knowledge notes affection. 

 

CHRIST KNOWS HIS SHEEP. 

He knows with a distinguishing eye who are his sheep, and who are not; he knows the sheep under their many infirmities, and the goats under their most plausible disguises. He knows with a favourable eye those that in truth are his own sheep; he takes cognizance of their state, concerns himself for them, has a tender and affectionate regard to them, and is continually mindful of them in the intercession he ever lives to make within the veil; he visits them graciously by his Spirit, and has communion with them; he knows them, that is, he approves and accepts of them, as Psalm 1:6 “For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

Psalm 37:18 “The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.”

Exodus 33:17 “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” 

 

HE IS KNOWN OF THEM. 

He observes them with an eye of favour, and they observe him with an eye of faith. Christ's knowing his sheep is put before their knowing him, for he knew and loved us first - 1 John 4:19, and it is not so much our knowing him as our being known of him that is our happiness, Galatians 4:9. Yet it is the character of Christ's sheep that they know him; know him from all pretenders and intruders; they know his mind, know his voice, know by experience the power of his death. Christ speaks here as if he gloried in being known by his sheep, and thought their respect an honour to him. Upon this occasion Christ mentions John 10:15 the mutual acquaintance between his Father and himself: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father. Now this may be considered, either, First, As the ground of that intimate acquaintance and relation which subsist between Christ and believers.  The covenant of grace, which is the bond of this relation, is founded in the covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son, which, we may be sure, stands firm; for the Father and the Son understood one another perfectly well in that matter, and there could be no mistake, which might leave the matter at any uncertainty, or bring it into any hazard. The Lord Jesus knows whom he hath chosen, and is sure of them John 13:18, and they also know whom they have trusted, and are sure of him 2 Timothy 1:12, and the ground of both is the perfect knowledge which the Father and the Son had of one another's mind, when the counsel of peace was between them both. 

Or, Secondly, As an apt similitude, illustrating the intimacy that is between Christ and believers. It may be connected with the foregoing words, thus: I know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father; compare John 17:21. 

1. As the Father knew the Son, and loved him, and owned him in his sufferings, when he was led as a sheep to the slaughter, so Christ knows his sheep, and has a watchful tender eye upon them, will be with them when they are left alone, as his Father was with him. 

2. As the Son knew the Father, loved and obeyed him, and always did those things that pleased him, confiding in him as his God even when he seemed to forsake him, so believers know Christ with an obediential fiducial regard. Do you know Christ as your Shepherd; and does he know you.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, open my inner eyes to know you nd be known to you s my Great Shepherd in Jesus name. 

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Psalms 106-108.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE, The General Overseer of Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others. For prayers, Counseling and further enquiries, call or whatsapp +2347032993319; +2348056130469. Or Email: anchoroflifeministry@gmail.com