14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
The astounding words of Jesus tell us of the depth of relationship believers have with Jesus. He uses the word knowledge as is often done in the Bible to describe deep relationship. He equates his relationship with us and the relationship we have with him, to the relationship he has with the Father. This is breathtaking when we consider that he says elsewhere, “the Father and I are one.” We have the greatest of intimacy with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Notice that he repeats at the start of verse 14, “I am the Good Shepherd”, and then he repeats at the end verse 15 that he lays down his life for us. The implication for us all is that no matter how lonely or unloved we might feel, no matter how disappointed or hurt from the relationships of our lives, we have a perfect relationship with Jesus and hence with the Father. No matter how unlovable we may feel, we are perfectly loved by Christ.
Take this truth into the depth of your being and then remember that Jesus told us to love as he has loved us.
