“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.” Commentary: Look it is easy for me to follow Jesus because he rescued me off my death bed as a young man! It was an easy decision for me to make! We are going to look at two Greek words in this passage for our English words “follow” and “know”. To follow Jesus means a decision based on a spiritual and moral relationship to him! It is an immediate response without delay or second thoughts! The evidence of his love is overwhelming! It is beyond reason! It is incomprehensible yet reality! Jesus calls individuals not crowds! You follow him in relationship to him! If you do not follow him then you have no relationship to him! You know him and he knows you! By fellowship with Jesus salvation is acquired! We follow his example! He has forgiven us we forgive others! His love for us has won our trust and obedience! We can count on his promises and he will never fail us! We follow him because he has prepared a place for us in heaven! We are sheep in his pasture here on earth and in heaven! My sheep hear my voice! We deny self to follow him! We subdue our flesh that wars against him! His self denial led him to the Cross for me! We share in his suffering both inwardly and outwardly! Following Jesus is an outward appearance of an inward act! A moral response to his love for us! We cannot deny the one who gave himself for us! We follow his love! It is an independent act to a corporate heaven! Our time and history past present and future are surrendered to him! Now let us move on to the word “know”. This word means to know him through experience! You know as a man if you had a picture of a beautiful Hollywood actress hanging on your wall dressed in a bikini you might think you knew her? However if you spent a night with her in her mansion bedroom you might have a completely different idea of her based on your experience! Your theology will never be a reality until you experience the love of Jesus who sacrificed his love for you! Yes true love is sacrificial! That is why the religious leaders of today and of Jesus day are so cold! A knowledge of God without God! To know him to experience his love and the word became flesh and dwelt among men! A reality based upon his word! You can vote for people for public office but you will never really know them! In fact after they get into office you might wish you had never voted for them! They are screwing things up! Jesus is not running for public office! He is the office! He is creator of heaven and earth! He conquered death just for you! You cannot vote him in or out of office! Jesus is always the same! Never changes with the tide! Does not matter what generation always true! He will never leave you nor forsake you! He exposes the lies of men and the truth of his Godhead! Who knows more about your motor vehicle than you? The manufacturer! Jesus created you and he knows more about you than you yourself do! That is why you need the Savior! That is why he came to earth to die on a Cross for you! If you will come to know him you will surely follow him! James & Hamsa Sasse. IndiaJesusLovesYouChurch.com