The Sheep Know His Voice

Over the past couple of days, we’ve reflected on Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10), and his challenging statement, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” I continue those reflections today. 

Who are Jesus’ other sheep?

I remember years ago worshiping at an Evangelical Church in Mexico right on the border. The service must have lasted two and a half hours. You could see the desperation and the faith in people’s eyes as they sang songs of praise, and pleaded for mercy in prayer… 

Whenever I think about the crisis on the border, even today, I can’t help but remember them…

And then, I think about the Christians I knew in Jamaica. And I think about how the churches of Jamaica and the Caiman Islands came together and created these ministries of compassion that made such an impact – feeding the hungry, and caring for orphans.  

Who are Jesus’ other sheep?

I think again about the conservative Southern Baptists and the ultra-liberal More Light churches. I think about Christians who love Trump and Christians who love Biden. I think about Catholics and Eastern Orthodox and Lutherans and Methodists… 

He calls the sheep by name and they know his voice… We know his voice…

 What’s he saying to us? What is he saying to me?

Is he saying: Expand the walls of your heart… Expand the boundaries of your prayers… expand the bounds of your compassion. Is he saying: Just as I need a shepherd, so do they need a shepherd? Just as I need to be led, so do they need to be led? Just as I find myself in dark valleys and face enemies and get lost in the wilderness, so it is with them? Just as I belong to you, O Christ, so do they.

Let us pray: We remember today, O God, that we have deep ties and even a spiritual kinship with people across the globe… With all the forces that would seek to divide, we ask for your healing grace. Begin with us; through Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Amen.