In John 10:10 Jesus says, “I have come that my sheep may have life and have it abundantly.”
How does Jesus give us this abundant or extraordinary life?
The gospel says that the Good Shepherd comes to meet the sheep to lead them out. In Latin that is said “ex-ducere” which means “to educate”. Jesus comes to make us leave the comfort and security of the fold and go deeper into ourselves to reach that extraordinary life. So to educate them, to make them grow, he invites them to take an active role. Jesus uses 3 action verbs: listen, know, follow. “The sheep know his voice. He calls each one by name and leads them out. After he has brought out all those who belong to him, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.” John 10:3-4
1. Listen. This is always a fundamental attitude.
“One of the teachers of the law asked him: What is the first of all the commandments? Jesus answered: The first is, ‘Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12:28-31
To listen we must first silence the world around us and then silence ourselves. Only then will you be able to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and recognise his voice among all the others.
Listening is a true sign of love. Listen to what? God’s call, the invitation to follow him. He is calling!
2. Knowing
In the Bible, knowing is not something merely intellectual. It is in a relationship of love that we truly know and are known. It is this intimacy, this mutual understanding, this deep esteem, this communion of hearts and minds that marks love! God knows you in this way, but His desire is that you should know him in the same way.
So that He can fulfil His project of love in you: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” John 17:3
3. Follow
This verb of action expresses a free attitude: that of adherence, of the whole person, to another person. To follow is to trust, to attach oneself to someone. How many times Jesus said to different people: “Follow me!” To follow someone is also to renounce one’s attachments, it is to put the other person before myself. It is to become a follower, a disciple so that it is He who leads, educates, with a view to acquiring:
– The same thinking as Christ: “Let yourselves be transformed, acquiring a new mindset, that you may be able to discern what is the will of God: what is good, what is pleasing to him, what is perfect” Romans 12:2
– The same mind as Christ: “Have the same mind among yourselves, which is in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 2:5
– The same act as Christ: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34
If you agree to listen, know and follow Jesus, then He will help you find your true identity and you will achieve that extraordinary life your heart longs for.
SFS
– Take 10 minutes of silence (outer and inner) to LISTEN to God
– During the day ask yourself: What would Jesus do in this situation?
– Do, as Jesus would do!