September 11

Christ Knows His Own

I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, — John 10:14 BSB

In the East, shepherds marked their sheep with distinct signs so they could recognize them, even among a large flock. Christ, too, has ways of recognizing His own.

He knows them by their faces. Every true follower of Christ bears some resemblance to Him. There is a family likeness, some reflection of the Divine image that shines through. The father of the prodigal son recognized his child from a long way off, despite the rags and marks of a wasted life. Christ recognizes His own, even when the resemblance to Him is faint. While the world may not see anything special in humble Christians, Christ and His angels know them by their faces.

He also knows them by their voices. A mother knows her child’s voice instantly, even among a thousand others. Likewise, Christ recognizes the voices of His people wherever they are, whether in prayer, praise, or distress.

Christ also knows His own by their character. Even if their outward appearance is rough or unpolished, He sees the heart. He saw the greatness of Peter’s potential in the rugged fisherman Simon. He knows His people by their obedience, by the righteousness they wear, and by their willingness to follow where He leads. The heart of the penitent sends up a sweet fragrance to Him, like incense from an altar or perfume from a broken jar. Just as we find flowers by their fragrance, God knows where to find repentant hearts by the sweetness that rises from them. He knows His own.