I. Introduction

Today, more than ever, we are called to come together as disciples of Christ, as families, and neighbors, as people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and persuasions. We are called to put aside our differences and be Easter children, children of the cross and the resurrection, people who remember why Christ died, and the power and purpose of His resurrection, which is to give life to everyone. Why is this so important today? Let us have a look at Jesus' proclamation about His relationship with His sheep and how they listen to His voice.

II. My Sheep hear My Voice

In the previous passage, John 10 v 1-19, Jesus provides a comparison between the Good Shepherd, and the thieves and robbers. The Good Shepherd opens the gate, recognizes each sheep by name, and acts with good intentions. He cares for them, and he calls their names; they listen to His voice, and they follow Him. They trust the Good Shepherd, because they feel safe, and they find pasture / rest with Him. If they stray off, He will go and find them, in the desert, the heat, the cold, and the dangerous terrain. In contrast with the Good Shepherd, there are the thieves and robbers, who pretend to take care of the sheep. They deceived the sheep, who neither knew nor followed them. The sheep fled from the thief and the robber, as they instinctively recognized him as an unfamiliar and potentially dangerous individual. It was sensible for them to remove themselves from the situation. This figure of speech is Jesus' way of illustrating the realities of what the disciples, the crowds were facing in their search for love and compassion, for healing and food, for safety and security. The crowd needed help; many were hungry, sick, and feared rejection from passersby, including religious leaders. In Jesus, they found someone who listens to them, helps them and cares for them. The Jewish leaders found this discourse difficult to accept. Verses 20 and 21 highlight the division among them regarding Jesus's words and actions. Why listen to Him, some said? He is demon- possessed and raving mad. Others countered this by saying, these are not the words of a demon-possessed man. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? They could not come to an agreement about what Jesus just told them.

And now, here in our passage, these Jewish leaders surrounded Him and accused Him of not telling them explicitly that He was the Christ. But, instead of giving in to their wishes He told them point blank that they did not acknowledge Him as the Christ, and therefore did not believe Him, and that they did not believe IN Him. Because of their unbelief, Jesus tells them that they are not His sheep, because His sheep listen to Him, they follow Him, and they feel safe with Him. His sheep do not contradict Him and make it hard for Him to convey the message of God's love and forgiveness. They belong to Him, and He knows each one of them, and gives them eternal life. This message from Jesus must have been difficult for them to process and understand.

III. Conclusion

Today, the message of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, continues to emphasize love, care, and compassion for the poor, the outcasts, and the strangers in our society. His message is universal and applies to our time today. It is about God's love in action, which is to provide safety and security and peace for all. It involves rest for those who are tired and supplying them with necessary resources to maintain their dignity. He also speaks against those who pretend to take care of the poor and the needy, who create chaos, and insecurity, robbing the dignity and resources of those in need. As the Son of God, He stands firm in this world of ours and continues to make clear God's will to His followers and those who question His identity and His purpose. As the church of Christ, we must follow where He leads, showing God's love to all people, taking care of the poor, the outcast, the stranger, the homeless, the sick, the ones who suffer from addiction. We are called to speak and act, because that is how He recognizes us, when we follow where He leads. But most of all, we are called right here, to come together and be together, working out our differences in our homes, with our neighbors, at work, and here at church. May God help each one of us to respond to this call to hear His voice, and take His hand, so we can feel strong, and confident to do what we as Christ's followers are called to do. To hear His voice is to hear His message of love, compassion and His understanding of what it takes love and be there for every human being on earth. Amen.