“I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” verse 14. Wow, to be known by Christ as a shepherd knows his sheep. In such a way that in a crowded street or busy field we hear a voice that is recognizable. Through the storm and the rushing waters He sees us and knows we are His and comes to our aid. This implies a relationship that is daily and unending. The shepherd wakes up with his sheep and doesn’t sleep until they are safe, on the other end the sheep don’t sleep until they are physically forced down by the shepherd. If that didn’t happen they would just sit there, dumbfounded and awake.

All night. All day. We are lost without a shepherd.

Here in John 9 and 10 Jesus tells us He is that shepherd and that no longer will we wander. We are no longer lost and awake. We can sleep peacefully for once in our life. We no longer need to worry about the rent or the mortgage or the gas or the food. We will continue to walk through the valley death but praise God because we are DONE fearing evil. Our God, our Savior, our Shepherd is here. He wants to take us home, He isn’t handing us a map and saying good luck chuck see you when you get there. No that would be too easy. He came here, left His Glory, so that He could suffer for His sheep.

I am done suffering, but it is not by my own choice or anything I have or ever will do. It is because God is love, mercy, and grace. He experienced pain that I caused Him so that I would no longer feel pain. He is forever leading me by still waters and restoring my soul. Praise Yahweh for our Shepherd.

Verse 15 ends a little differently. “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;” (here’s the kicker) “and I lay down My life for the sheep.”