joh 10v27 My Sheep
"MY SHEEP"
John 10:27
With these two simple words our Lord distinguishes his
people from all the rest of mankind. Let men deny it as they will, and let them
denounce me for preaching it if that gives them pleasure, but the God of the Bible
does distinguish between men. He chooses some and passes by others. He redeems
some and leaves others under the curse of the law. He calls some and rejects
others. He saves some and damns others. Grace is God's prerogative. He has
mercy on whom he will have mercy.
Our Lord makes this very plain.
He said to the unbelieving Jews, who refused to believe him, "Ye are not
of my sheep." And he told them plainly that God had not given them the
gift of faith, because they were not numbered among his sheep. "Ye believe
not, because ye are not of my sheep." The gift of faith, like all other
gifts of grace, is reserved for the Lord's sheep, God's chosen, covenant people
(Eph, l:3-6).
If you are a believer, one of
that great multitude to whom God has given faith in Christ, it is because you
are one of his sheep, elect and precious to the Lord. God our Savior says of
you, you are "My sheep." Truly, his grace is "amazing
grace". In everlasting love, by sovereign, deliberate choice, the Son of
God has distinguished you from all other people, and made you to be his sheep,
his own peculiar possession!
The Lord Jesus Christ has special
grace reserved for his sheep. He does many things for his sheep, which he does
not do for other men. He agreed in the covenant of grace to save his sheep (v.
16). He laid down his life in the place of his sheep (vv. 11, 15). Our Lord
prays for his sheep (John 17:9-11, 15, 20). The Son of God calls his sheep to
himself (v. 3). The Good Shepherd knows his sheep, gives eternal life to his
sheep, protects his sheep, provides for his sheep, preserves his sheep, and
holds his sheep in his almighty hand (vv. 27-30). What a privilege it is for a
believing sinner to look upon the incarnate God and say, "The Lord is my
Shepherd", and hear him say, "My sheep!"