“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

The way Jesus phrases His statement ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me’ is oddly comforting to me. As I read through John 10 I half expect the statement to read ‘My sheep listen to my voice; they know me, and they follow me.’ That makes sense to me. It is my responsibility to listen, know, and follow, right? But at verse 27 Jesus instead says that He knows me. As I write this my mind and emotions are a swirl. It is a comfort to know that Jesus knows what is in me. And I love it that in the midst of my swirl He speaks and I hear. I take comfort in the fact that this One who knows me can make sense of my swirl and He knows how to speak to me loud enough or soft enough or in the right tone so that I can hear through the jumble. And on the other side of my swirl, through His knowledge of me, He is leading – there is a place we are going and I can follow. What comfort, hope, and easing to my mind and emotions. Jesus is my Shepherd. He knows me. He leads me. I trust Him. I will follow.

 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” Isaiah 41:13