He Knows Your Name
“But he who
enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To
him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his
voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads
them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he
goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they
know his voice” (John 10:2-4)
Recently, we needed a “sabbatical”
and traveled 3,800 miles from Southern California
and the pressures in that place, to O’ahu, in
Hawaii, where pressures do exist, but not so much in
relation to us. I did not expect the constant winds
which we experienced on the “windward side” of the
island, though they were not really a problem. And
it rained almost every day, but usually just enough
to cool us off and reduce the humidity for awhile.
The birds in that place were simply
amazing. I don’t know much about birds, but they
can be cute and the species we saw were more than
“cute” – they were simply wonderful. There were
small white-and-black birds with impossibly long
legs, which we learned were called “stilts,” an
endangered species making a comeback. The U.S.
Marine Corps base where we stayed had a wildlife
preserve consisting of large ponds with unusual
creatures, including, it was said, about 300 stilts.
Again, I really don’t know much
about birds, but I found a friend among them. When
I was a boy, I had a “talking” parakeet, though the
truth is that it wanted to teach ME to make bird
sounds, and it seemed to have little to no interest
in learning anything about the way humans talk. As
to my new friend in Hawaii, I met him while having
lunch outside the “Lodge” where we stayed, in a
grassy area containing picnic tables. The Lodge was
the guest facility on the Marine Corps base in O’ahu,
a place that had very beautiful beaches which made
us glad to be there. The surf was strong and the
colors in water and sky were extraordinary. My new
little friend hopped up on the table during my first
meal.
He had a magnificent orange-red
head, with a red “top-knot” that jutted up into the
air. His feathers abruptly turned snow-white at his
neck and breast, while his wings, back and tail were
colored an ashen gray. His body seemed thickset, a
little heavy for his wings, but he did all right in
the air, hopping with surprising leaps when he was
not flying.
Even though the red-headed bird was
physically beautiful, his most interesting attribute
was to me, his voice. Most birds have a sound or
two or three they can make, but this one had a
seemingly endless “vocabulary” of sounds. There
were two birds, actually, and they were almost
always together, but this one was much more bold
than his mate.
“My” bird would let out a large
“chirp” when he saw me, leap up onto the other side
of the table, and cock his head in my direction. He
would then start uttering his sounds, seemingly
daring me to imitate them. I whistle pretty well,
though I’m not so sure about it right now, because I
broke two front teeth while in Hawaii. I had not
yet broken them, and did my best to imitate his
“language.” I tried to teach him something, too,
but just like my parakeet of long ago, he only
endured my sounds, impatiently waiting until I was
done, insisting that I learn HIS ways, though he was
not interested in learning mine.
The little bird, in my opinion, is
more versatile and beautiful than the “sheep”
of today’s Scripture, but he has something in common
with them. Sheep and that bird have minds of their
own, and the fact that sheep will respond to a
shepherd, more relates to his skill in leading them,
than it does their willingness to follow. And the
story in John Chapter 10 (as it is in all of Jesus’
parables), is really about people.
Jesus Christ is the “Door”
to the place of safety for the “sheep”
(John 10:7), which consist of human beings like you
and me. He is our place of safety. He is the “Good
Shepherd,” the One who loves the “sheep”
so much that He utterly gave His own life in our
defense (John 10:14-15).
Notice that Jesus “calls
His own sheep by name and leads them…” (John
10:3). If that little bird on O’ahu has a name, I
do not know it. If he has thoughts and aspirations
and hopes and needs, I do not know what they are.
And if I did know, the remaining problem would be
that I do not know how to fulfill them. But it’s
very different for our Lord in relation to you and
me.
He knows your name. He does know
your thoughts, aspirations, hopes and needs, and He
precisely knows how to complete and fulfill them for
you. He is the only way for you to ever know
safety. He is the Door to LIFE for you, both now
and forever. He is the One who died in your place,
so that you might become truly alive. When the
“wolf” came to the place of the “sheep,”
He stood between you and the wolf, so that you do
not need to know the agony of eternal death.
There are others who are said to be
some kind of “door”
to life with God. But the reality is that all such
are “thieves and robbers”
(John 10:8), who actually want to “kill
and destroy” (John 10:10). Jesus Christ will
truly give you “LIFE…”
and you will “have it more
abundantly” than you ever thought possible
(John 10:10).
You and I are like that little bird,
who wants others to listen and respond, for we are
all quick to speak and slow to listen to other
people and to the Lord. The Son of God, Jesus
Christ, does something wonderful for His little
ones, His “sheep:” He
enables us to become able to really LISTEN for the
first time. Jesus said that His sheep “know
His voice” and they follow Him. He is
speaking to you right now.
Note that His people are often found
in obscure places and contexts, not unlike that
bird, who is very real, but is unknown by most in
the world. Jesus refers to “other
sheep” who have heard His voice, in all parts
of the world and in all the times of history. His
Cross reaches everywhere, into every time and place,
even reaching as far as your need and mine. He
knows your name. He knows your need. He is waiting
for you right now. Will you listen? Will you
follow the Lord?
Lord, I “hear” Your call. I see
that You gave Your life for me. Please forgive me
for not listening in the past – let me listen now,
and please open the Door for me. In Jesus Name.
Amen.
