How Will Jesus Know His Sheep?
By
David L. Mulherin

Sometimes I have a thought pop into my head and I just don’t know how to express it. I just can’t dismiss these types of thoughts. They stay at the front of my mind and jump out at me day and night. The question, “How Will Jesus Know His Sheep,” is one such thought. I know the answer. Why it is so important for you to understand how Jesus will know His sheep? More importantly, how can I show you the answer?

First and foremost, you need to know that Jesus’ sheep are not animals. They are Christians. Now that brings forth the next question: Who or what are Christians? Some will tell you that as long as you believe in God you’re a Christian. Someone may say that as long as you believe in The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, you are a Christian. I can use The Bible to show you who Christians are, and how to tell if someone is a Christian. I can use this same Word to show you how Jesus will know His sheep. Finally, I can show you how to become one of these sheep.

A Christian is one who is known by the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? (v23) Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”

To be a Christian you must belong to Christ. You must follow Christ. In Acts chapter 11 verse 26c, it says, “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” It’s very important to understand that a disciple is one who receives instruction from another and is a follower of that teacher. Jesus was and still is a Teacher. He came into this world to teach the truth and to show the path. He came to live the sin free life and to pay the price for salvation for all that will truly follow Him.

In the early Church, the disciples were the ones to walk with Christ. They ate, slept and went with Jesus wherever He went. But not all of them went! There was one named Paul. Paul wrote most of the New Testament. But at the time Jesus was alive, Paul’s name was Saul of Tarsus. Saul was a true believer in God, but not of Jesus. He sought to destroy anyone who believed in Jesus. As a Jew of higher learning, Saul worked for the Sanhedrin. He was to expose those that were a threat to the Jewish beliefs. At the time of Jesus crucifixion and before, the Sanhedrin saw Jesus as a threat to their way of life because Jesus spoke the truth about the Kingdom of God. He exposed the sin that was in the world and showed the love of God that priests were not showing. The truth Jesus spoke was the passing away of the law of God and the start of freedom of God through salvation.

Saul persecuted Christians with all of his strength. In Acts 6:8 thru 8:1; you can read about Stephen. Stephen was the first Christian to be put to death for speaking the truth of God. As events unfold in chapter 8 verse 1, you read of Saul’s involvement. Acts 8:1 says, “And Saul was there, giving approval to his (Stephen’s) death.” Please notice I said Stephen was the first Christian put to death. And that’s true. Jesus was not called a Christian. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is called Christ. The word “Christ” means “The Anointed One” or “The Messiah.” “Christian” comes from the root word ‘Christ.’ It follows then that anyone following Jesus Christ is a Christian.

After Stephen’s death, “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” as found in Acts 9:1-2. Saul had tasted blood and wanted more. He was on a mission. Like so many of us Saul was bound and determined to finish. It did not matter if he was right or wrong.

Acts 9:3 takes you down the path that shows Saul’s conversion from believing in God to believing in and following Jesus Christ the Son of God. Verse 3 says, “As he (Saul) neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him (v4). He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (V5) “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied (v6). “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

If Saul believed in God, then why did he have to believe in and follow Jesus? Malachi 3:1 says “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord Almighty.” Saul knew the word of God and when the light from heaven came down he knew it was of God. In Acts 9:5a, Saul asks, “Who are you Lord?” As a Jew, Saul was bound to follow God’s will. In John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” On the road to Damascus Saul understood what this meant when The Lord replied “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5b).

As with Saul (who now becomes Paul), you can see that the first step of following Jesus is to have a life changing experience. It can’t be brought on by anyone else. It is a step of faith where you let down your guard, reach out into the unknown and ask Jesus Christ to come into your life. Just like in Acts 9:5: Saul heard the Lord and succumbed to His call. Jesus will knock on the door of your heart. Can you hear Him? Be still, be quiet, and listen. Only you can open the door and ask Jesus into your life.

April 28, 2002