You know, as I’ve grown, many things have changed for me. I’ve moved around. I’ve shifted in my education. I’ve grown into some of the things I’m good at. However, some things have not changed. My temperament has remained, many of my hobbies- yet there is one thing that has never changed. When I’m excited, whenever I’m upset. Whenever I have a problem and I need a solution. Whenever I need sound advice- there is one person that is always there: my mom. There is just something that no other relationship on earth can substitute for. Mom has always been there for me from the beginning. She knows my personality. She knows where I excel. She also knows where I fall short and where I fail. When it comes to who I am- I need not worry- because mom just knows!
Now, I use that word “know” very intentionally. It is something of a common term that we use on a daily basis. We know lots of facts. We know sports scores. We know what time we need to get up in the morning… yet, what does that really mean? Further, if you just heard from the very short Gospel that we had this morning, we heard Jesus say “I know them.” Who? What does “know” mean here? Why does that make a difference? What does this really mean?
To begin, we should start at the very outset with the Acts of the Apostles. The two main characters this week are Paul and Barnabas, and we are told that they are in Antioch. They have gone into the synagogue, and were preparing to speak. Vast crowds appeared to come to them, and this was a good thing. Well, it was good for most, except for the Jews. They saw this, and at once their hearts are filled with bitterness and jealousy. It’s rather strange, since Paul and Barnabas are preaching the news of Jesus Christ, and because of this- the Jews do not like and do not even accept that very message.
So what happens? Paul and Barnabas move on in who they are speaking to. They knew that they were first going to preach to the Jews, and yet, that message is, unfortunately, falling on deaf ears. So, they begin speaking to the Gentiles- the ones that fell outside of who we consider to be the “Church proper.” So, the Gentiles heard this, and they rejoiced! They were ecstatic that Jesus had also called them to become believers! However, the Jews, when they saw this reaction, were angered. They were so angered, in fact, that they drove Paul and Barnabas out of their region.
A lot of this we would expect. The Gentiles would be happy to be included. The Jews would be angered to be excluded. There isn’t a lot that would surprise us there. Yet, Paul and Barnabas do give us a surprise later on. Notice their reaction whenever they are rejected and thrown out. Were they bitter? Were they angry?
No, not at all. In fact, the reading tells us that they were filled with joy- and with the Holy Spirit! They saw that was happening. They weren’t indifferent to the pain and suffering that was going on in their situation- but there was something more in going on… but what was it?
The second reading is taken from the book of Revelation. We are in this apocalyptic language and imagery, and so a lot of this may sound very familiar to that slant. We know that John is in the middle of a vision, and during this vision he sees this image: multitudes of people. There are so many people there, in fact, that he could not count. Notice, though, he speaks of a particular group- some that were standing before the Lamb- wearing white robes, and holding Palm branches. Who are they? The elder tells John, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” It is the Lamb, now, who will be their shepherd, and lead them to a place of refreshment and light.
What this emphasizes is that these are people that have experienced suffering and affliction- and yet, now, they are comforted by the Lamb. There is something important here, and we will come back to it- but it is an image of those who have made it to heaven, even in spite of everything that has happened to them.
Finally, we arrive at the Gospel- and it is remarkably short this Sunday. Nonetheless, it has a message that seems to more than make up for its brevity. In the Gospel of John, we are told of Jesus speaking to the disciples. He says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.”
Let’s stop right there. It’s not the full Gospel, but it is enough. What does it mean when Jesus says “I know them.” He is identifying sheep, and this certainly means all of us as members of His flock! That has a certain element of comfort in it, and yet, I think we need to double down: what does it mean that Jesus “knows” his sheep?
Perhaps being “known” is a lot deeper than we would expect. In our common experience, we think that knowing something or someone is just knowing of them… yet it is far deeper here. We are speaking more on the level of a parent who knows their child, though even that image fails slightly. A mother, such as my mother, for example, knows her son. They are so connected to them that they have knowledge of their likes and dislikes. Their strengths and their weaknesses. Everything- even including what makes them tick. A mother knows her child.
God, also, as a shepherd, knows His sheep. It is not enough to say that He knows “of them” but we have to go even deeper to understand. God KNOWS His sheep. He knows each of us very, very well. Have you ever considered what that means? Jesus is not just a shepherd who knows of his flock in a general or abstract way. He knows them intentionally. He has made it a point to know everything about you. To be in relationship with you. To know the things that you do well. What you enjoy. Where you live. Who you spend your time with. He knows you so well, in fact, that He knows those things that we may not know so well! The things we wouldn’t expect just anyone to know. Where we fall short. Where we find difficulty. What sets us off.
The reality of what occurs here is that it shows us that God cares. Deliberately. For each of us individually. It isn’t enough that He see you exist somewhere, but He wants to know you. This should mean something! This is why Paul and Barnabas rejoiced- even in the face of failure. They rejoiced and grew in the Holy Spirit! They knew that Jesus was right there with them- and because of that fact, they would never truly experience failure! Or the ones who were washed in the blood of the Lamb- these too are known well- and they responded to God as to live in eternal life!
In all honesty, brothers and sisters, Jesus wants to counteract that feeling of not being known. We’ve probably all been there. The place where no one cares, or no one gets it. No one truly understands. If we actually believe that, it can take us to a dark place, and we can even try to justify ourselves. Yet, there is no need! We are intimately and truly treasured by God. We may have things that we are working on, and we may not be quite perfect yet, but that is okay. Our Lord still wants to know who we are- and He does!
Brothers and sisters, that is really the task and the challenge this week. Do you believe that Jesus Christ cares enough about you to know, not just of you, but to truly know you fully and totally? Or is it safer to hide, and believe that He doesn’t care? We truly have a shepherd that wants to be in a deep relationship with each of us- so deep that it can give us peace and security- even in affliction and rejection. Yet, the choice is up to us- do we want to truly let Jesus love and know us- and are we willing to follow?
Jesus tells us: I know my sheep and they follow me. Let us be sheep who are unafraid to follow our shepherd who knows each one of us, even more than a shepherd knows and loves his sheep.
