DO YOU KNOW THE VOICE OF JESUS?

John 10:1-5, 7-8,14 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. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

According to John 10 while talking to a multitude of Jews Jesus shared insight into the relationship of a shepherd and his sheep. This discourse happened after Jesus had healed on the Sabbath a man who was blind from birth. Instead of being excited over this miracle, it made the religious leaders very angry; therefore, Jesus wanted to point out the difference between Him the good shepherd, and them the false, robbing shepherds.

Knowing the multitude understood the maintenance of the sheepfold in His day Jesus used it in a parable for them. In the evening the shepherds would lead their sheep to the central walled-in fold where the flock gathered.  This fold had one entrance and was guarded by a porter or doorkeeper throughout the night. While in the fold the sheep were able to mingle with sheep that were not part of their flock. In the morning when their shepherd came for them, he would stand at the entrance and call the sheep by name, and they responded by coming to him. Each sheep had developed a relationship with their shepherd, and it was his voice they followed without hesitation. If an unknown shepherd called a sheep, it would not respond but rather flee in another direction. In ending this communication Jesus informed the multitude He was the good shepherd, and His sheep’s ears were closed to those that would do them harm for He and His sheep were intimate with each other.

Many believers struggle with knowing the voice of Jesus but this discourse that He had with the multitude gives us the solution. Spend time praying and becoming intimate with Him and you will be able to distinguish His voice from that of a perpetrator; there will be no mistaken identity.