Tuesday Chapel: We Follow Him because He Knows Us
John 10:14 "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me."
Why is facebook such a popular website? Every week it's in the top 3 for websites visited, along with google and youtube. Why do people like facebook so much - what's so great about facebook? People who study human behavior have all kinds of theories. The best theory I've heard is this one - people like facebook because it allows you to do 2 things - it allows you to know others, and it allows you get others to know about you. You can post pictures of yourself, you can write opinions about whatever is happening in your life and people will get to know you. And you can get to know others as you read what they write and look at the pictures that they post.
Deep down, most people want to be known, and want to know others. In John chapter 10, Jesus says, "I know my sheep, and my sheep know me." I know you, Jesus says to you this morning. Look around at the people who are sitting with you in homeroom today. Which of these people really know you? Does anyone in the room really know you, what you really think about during the day, what you really wish for and hope for, what you are really afraid of, what you day dream about. Does anyone really know you? They might know the school version of you, or the facebook version of you, but what about the real you - the part of you that hides behind all that stuff.
Imagine what would happen to you if you spent the day telling people what was really on your mind - you would hold nothing back. Maybe during homecoming next year, instead of having a dress up day, we'll have a "speak your mind day." Anything goes. If it's in your mind, you can say it - it's OK. Just imagine the kinds of things that would come out of your mouth. Perhaps the reason we are secretive about many of our thoughts is because we know that people really wouldn't like us if they knew what we were really like.
And yet Jesus says, "I know my sheep, Jesus says, and my sheep know me." For Jesus, every day is speak your mind day. He knows you. Every image in your mind, every thought you have - it's like a wide open facebook for Jesus, and he sees it all. You can't be secretive with him. And there's a miracle here. The miracle is, he knows you, and he still loves you. He sees your sin, every thought, every image - he sees it all. And he, your good shepherd, loves you anyway. He forgives you. He lays down his life for you.
And if this is true, then you can be glad that Jesus knows you. He knows your sin, and forgives it. And he knows your fears, your hopes, your worries. Just think, when he looks at you, he knows what you're going to be doing 5 years from now. He knows what your career will be, who you will marry, where you will live. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.
What a blessing, that we know him. He has opened himself up to you, not through facebook. But through the Bible. If you think about it, the Bible has all the pictures and images and quotes you'll ever need to know Jesus Christ. It is the place to visit on a daily basis to know what the Good Shepherd is thinking, to let him tell you that he loves you so much that he laid down his life for you. "I know my sheep, and my sheep know me." Let's pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being my Good Shepherd. You know my sins, and you forgive me. You know my fears, and you comfort me. You know my weaknesses, and you strengthen me. Help me to know you, all the days of my life. Amen.
