A number of years ago I was in Cyprus on a family holiday. The apartment block where we were staying was in a semi-rural location. Very early one morning I heard some noise outside. I went on to the balcony to find out where the sounds were coming from. In the field right next to the complex I saw a shepherd grazing his sheep. Leaning against his shepherd’s staff he was talking to his sheep as they enjoyed eating the grass. He moved around the field from one place to another and as he did so the sheep naturally followed him. It was a wonderful insight into the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep in that part of the world. It was obvious that there was a close bond between them, a bond built on personal knowledge and trust.
There are two things each one of us needs to know from Jesus. The first: Does Jesus know me personally? The second: Can Jesus be trusted? In describing himself as the Good Shepherd Jesus is saying a very definite ‘yes’ to both these questions.
I am a name to Jesus, not just a number. Jesus says to me, “I have called you by your name, you are mine.” “I have carved your name on the palm of my hand.” Perhaps no place in scripture better describes the personal knowledge Jesus has of each one of us than Psalm 139. “O God you search me and you know me. You know my resting and my rising. You mark when I walk or lie down. All my ways lie open to you. Before ever a word is on my tongue you know it, O Lord, through and through…….” We should have no reason to doubt that Jesus knows us personally and intimately. Indeed Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.
If Jesus knows us so intimately then surely we can trust him. Jesus is on our side. He is certainly not out to get us! He is always seeking to do the right thing for us. Jesus wants what is best for us. Jesus knows what is best for us. If Jesus wants the very best for each of us then he can be trusted even when he does allow us to suffer and make a mess of things. We must never doubt the faithfulness of Jesus. On him we can totally depend.