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The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep

John 10:22-30 (May 11, 2025)

“Nobody knows the trouble I see, nobody knows but Jesus; oh, nobody knows the trouble I see, glory hallelujah!” (UMH 520)

This African spiritual song makes you think about those times when you feel totally alone and like nobody gets what you’re going through. It’s like you’re shouting, “No one understands my struggles. I feel invisible, and it seems like even God has turned a blind eye to my pain.”

We’ve all been there, feeling like no one sees our pain or even cares. It can be really tough when you feel like that. Nonetheless, one thing to remember is that whatever you’re feeling is okay and totally normal when life gets hard. Feeling like you’re on your own is a heavy weight to carry, but remember you don’t have to carry it all by yourself. If you’ve ever felt that way, let’s just take a deep breath and be still for a moment. Let’s think about something that can help us feel grounded, even when life is crazy. The wisdom to do that can be discovered in the Scripture we’re reading today.

Today’s Scripture presents Jesus as our Good Shepherd, and ourselves as His sheep. And the amazing thing about this picture is that He really knows His sheep.

You know how sometimes a husband will say “I know that,” when his wife is telling him something over and over? But does he really know? Is he just saying it, or does he truly get it?

Well, in the Bible, “knowing” isn’t just about knowing facts. It’s about something much deeper. When the Bible talks about “knowing” (they use words like יָדַע yada in Hebrew or γινώσκω ginosko in Greek), it means a really close and personal connection. It’s about being connected, about going through things together, and really understanding each other. It’s more than just knowing about someone; it’s knowing them inside and out.

This isn’t just a surface-level “knowing.” It’s a complete, deep-down understanding, better than we even understand ourselves! Our Shepherd knows exactly how many sheep He has – not just a guess, but the exact number. He knows each one of us, personally. He knows how old we are, what kind of personality we have, everything about us. He even knows how many hairs are on our head! There’s not a single sheep in His flock that He doesn’t know.

He knows what we’re like, what we’re made of, what our good points are, and what our weaknesses are. He knows the ones who are feeling weak or fragile, the ones who are worried and scared, the ones who are strong, and even the ones who are feeling sleepy. He knows the ones who are being attacked by the devil, the ones caught in tough situations. He knows how we’re feeling – our fears, our worries, the moments we’re terrified. He knows the hidden parts of ourselves, the things we don’t even understand about ourselves.

But it goes even further than that! He knows the secrets we keep from everyone, even ourselves. He knows our secret thoughts, why we do the things we do, and the battles we fight inside. He knows what kind of personality we have, what we can handle, what pushes us over the edge, and what kind of spiritual food we need to grow. He knows everything that’s going to happen to us and He’s already working to make a path for us.

Now, if all this “knowing” was just facts and figures, it could be scary! But it’s not. It’s a knowing that comes from a deep, loving heart. He knows us because He loves us, and we’re incredibly special to Him. He has a place in His heart just for you, and for me, and for everyone He saved with His own sacrifice. He approves of us, He accepts us – not because we’re perfect, but because of His love and His understanding.

He knows us firsthand, not just by hearing about us. He’s been with us, sharing our quiet moments and our toughest struggles. He knows us intimately, like He’s read the story of our life like a favorite book. He knows us with compassion, remembering every page, every chapter, every struggle, every victory, and every time we’ve felt close to Him.

We’re His because He chose us (not the other way around)! He picked us out even before the world was created. Our names were written in His book from the very beginning. We became His special people, His chosen family.

How did this happen? Because the Father gave us to Him as a precious gift. We’re a sign of the Father’s endless love for the Son, a way for the Father to show how much He trusts Him.

He bought us with a price – with His own precious blood. That’s why He said, “And I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). Giving His life like that is the biggest proof of how much He loves us and how much we matter to Him. He didn’t just know us; He did something about it! He paid the ultimate price on Calvary to save us and bring us into His family.

Because of this complete, loving knowledge and His incredible sacrifice, we’re not left to fend for ourselves. We’re not alone when life gets tough and confusing. Our peace and comfort come from this amazing truth: that we are known by the Good Shepherd.

So, my friends, knowing that our Shepherd knows us, let’s be so thankful to have Him as our Shepherd! Let’s really take advantage of all the good things that come with being His sheep. Let’s make growing in our faith, try our best to know and love Jesus more, listening to His voice and doing what He asks because we love Him.

Let’s take a good look at our lives and see if there’s anything we need to change or apologize for. When we’re struggling or feeling bad about our mistakes, let’s run to Jesus for comfort and help. Instead of giving up, let’s trust that He can save us and help us get through it. Let’s trust that He can heal us, calm us down when we’re scared, forgive our mistakes, and help us overcome our challenges.

Let’s bring our problems and worries to Jesus, trusting Him completely, just like sheep trust their shepherd. Let’s find joy in learning about Jesus and let every story, every teaching, and every song about Him encourage us to serve Him and give ourselves to Him. Let’s make the most of all the good things that come with having Christ as our guide and protector.

On top of that, let’s completely trust God’s promise that He will take care of us. Let’s see that promise as something incredibly valuable, something that gives us security and peace when things are uncertain. Let’s rely on Jesus for everything we need.

Even when things get terribly tough, let’s still be humble, trust God more than ever, and turn away from the things that pull us away from Him. Let’s run to our Good Shepherd for help and to be saved, trusting that He’ll take care of us.

Brothers and sisters, as His sheep, let’s be kind and fair to each other, remembering that we’re all part of the same family. Let’s do our best to be like Jesus, looking for the good in everyone and striving to create a faith community where everyone respects each other and cares for each other. When we do that, we’re living out our faith and showing the world what it means to follow Christ.

Furthermore, let’s not forget that we’re all in this together, both here in our church and out in the world. It’s really important to remember that our actions, whether good or bad, can really affect those around us. Let’s try to be more like Jesus, seeing everyone as equally loved and important in God’s eyes. Our goal should be to build a world where everyone has a fair shot at making it and doing well.

Let’s really care about the things that Jesus cares about, especially sharing Him with others! He gave His everything for us, so let’s be thankful that Jesus is our Savior and join Him in His mission to reach those who don’t know Him yet. Let’s make growing closer to God and helping others discover His kingdom a top priority, instead of chasing after things that won’t last. By doing these things, we’ll be living out our faith and showing the world what it means to follow Christ.

Today is a special day, Mother’s Day. I’d like to take a moment to speak to all the mothers out there. Taking care of children is a challenging task that can’t be done without tears and sacrifices. It requires countless tears and heartaches. However, mothers don’t hesitate to go through these difficulties for the sake of their children. Unfortunately, many children often demand more from their mothers instead of showing gratitude for their sacrifices. This can be truly heartbreaking. As a result, mothers’ hearts become heavy with sorrow and frustration, feeling unable to meet their children’s demands. So they often sing like this:

Sometimes I’m up,
sometimes I’m down,
Oh, yes, Lord!
Sometimes I’m almost to the ground,
Oh, yes, Lord! 

Nobody knows the trouble I see,
nobody knows but Jesus;
oh, nobody knows the trouble I see,
glory hallelujah!

My dear mothers, I know that taking care of children can be incredibly tough. It can be frustrating when your children don’t appreciate your efforts and only ask for more, leaving you feeling helpless and overwhelmed.

But remember, even if your children don’t understand your sacrifices, our Lord does. He sees the tears you’ve shed for your children and collects them in a bottle. He comforts your troubled heart and hears your sighs and cries of desperation. This is a certainty, for He is your good Shepherd. Therefore, I urge you to remember this truth deeply in your heart.

Finally, if you are not yet among His sheep, if you have not yet heard His voice and followed Him, ask the Lord right now to bring you in. His arms are open to receive all who come to Him.

Dear brothers and sisters, let your actions during the week testify powerfully to Christ, just as His works testified to Him. Let your life be a living witness to the goodness of the Shepherd who knows and loves you.

May God bless you richly, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

Message Prayer: Dear Good Shepherd, thank You for knowing our troubles and sorrows. We are grateful You know us completely and intimately, surpassing our own understanding. Thank You for Your deep love and for purchasing us with Your blood. Help us trust You completely, bring our needs to You, and follow You obediently. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.