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Notice -

I. BELIEVERS IN RELATION TO CHRIST.

1. They are his property.

(1) By a double creation. The old and the new. He made them first men, and then Christians - new creatures in himself. They are his workmanship.

(2) By a Divine gift. "The Father, which gave them me." They are the gifts of his Father's love, given to him in trust for the purpose of salvation.

(3) By purchase. He laid down his life for them; redeemed them from the curse of the Law and from sin.

(4) By support. They are not merely his workmanship, but the sheep of his pasture. They are his.

2. They are his special property. Special:

(1) As they were purchased. His dominion is vast and wide; it ruleth over all. The universe is his estate, his property is infinite. But believers are his only "purchased possession."

(2) As they are very valuable. Their value can be to some extent estimated from the infinite price given for them - the precious blood of Christ. He knew their value when he made the purchase. As such they are his special treasures, his jewels.

(3) As they are very useful. The sheep is one of the most useful animals of the fields. Its flesh is food, and its fine wool is garment. Believers are useful, and valuable because useful. Sheep in the East were the most useful property. What would be the richest pasture without sheep to graze it? What would the world be without man - what its scenes without an eye, and its music without an ear? What would man be without faith in Christ and without godliness? The spiritual in man would be a power for evil. The soul would be barren, and the earth morally would be a desert, and would, as in the time of Noah, be utterly destroyed. Immanuel's land would be useless without the sheep.

II. SOME OF THEIR CHARACTERISTICS IN RELATION TO CHRIST.

1. "They hear his voice." This implies:

(1) Recognition of his voice. In the religious world there are many voices - that of the stranger, the thief, and the hireling. It is a Babel of sounds, and Christ's voice is imitated. But believers recognize the voice of Jesus amidst all, and they recognize it as the voice of the Son of God and their Savior.

(2) Special attention to his voice. They not merely distinguish and know it as his, but attend and hear; and to them it is particularly sweet and charming - like the sound of pardon to the condemned, the sound of health to the sick, or the sound of the trump of jubilee to the captives in the land of Israel of old. Even all the golden harps of heaven could not produce such a sweet music, and they listen with attention and rapturous delight.

(3) Willing acceptation by faith of his teaching. His voice does not die away in music and end in mere rapturous feelings. But its teaching sinks deep in the mind, produces genuine faith in the heart, and full and hearty acceptation and assent in the whole soul.

2. "They follow him." The hearing results in following. This implies:

(1) An acknowledgment of his leadership. "They follow me." This is a practical acknowledgment of his right and fitness in every respect to lead. They have every confidence in him, and they fully trust and believe and obey. And they ought; for he is a Leader and Commander of the people - the greatest Leader of all ages, the only Leader and Shepherd of souls.

(2) A practical proof of his influence over them and their adherence to him. "They follow." Why? Because he attracts them. It is the attraction of his Person, character, doctrine, life, love - the attraction of food to the hungry; they are not driven, but drawn; they are filled, and they follow; they are impelled and attracted.

(3) An acknowledgment of their relative position. Christ leads and they follow. The Master first, then the disciples. This is the natural and Divine order. Peter once wished to reverse it. He impulsively wanted to lead, but he was peremptorily ordered to the rear. "Get thee behind me." The shepherd is to be in front, the sheep behind. They generally do, and ought to, observe the proper order.

(4) Constant progression towards his life. "They follow me." He writes a copy, and they imitate. He commands, and they obey. He goes before, and they follow. They are never at a standstill, but follow him whithersoever he goeth. The Christian life is not rest here, but a continual movement after and towards Christ. He is the mark, and his disciples press on towards it, and they get nearer every day.

III. THE BLESSINGS THEY ENJOY IN RELATION TO CHRIST.

1. It is recognition of them. "I know them."

(1) His recognition of them is perfect. He knows them better than they know themselves, and before they know him. "Before Philip called thee," etc. He knows their outward circumstances and difficulties, their inward and real character, temptations and dangers. He knows them personally and individually. Not only he knows the flock generally, but he knows every sheep individually, and can call each one by name.

(2) His recognition of them is practical. He is not ashamed to own them as his. The relationship he publicly confesses. "My sheep." They are admitted to the circle of his immediate friendship, his sympathy, love, and help.

(3) His recognition to them is the highest honor. To be recognized by the great and rich of this world is considered a high honor. How much higher honor it is to be recognized by him who is Lord of all! This is the highest honor and distinction.

2. The enjoyment of the highest life. "I give," etc.

(1) This is the spiritual life of the soul. The life of God and of Christ within. Christ not only gave his life for the sheep, but also gave it to them, as a principle, an example, and inspiration of a new life in them. This is their greatest need.

(2) This life is the gift of Christ. "I give them." He alone could give it. It is the gift of his infinite love and free grace. It is most suitable to the recipients, and worthy of the princely Giver. No sum of money could purchase it, no amount of human merit could deserve it; but the Divine author graciously gives it to all his faithful adherents.

(3) It is the gift of Christ now. "I give them." It is not a mere promise, but a present gift.

(4) It is to be fully enjoyed in the future. "Eternal life." It is a life which has in it the elements of eternal continuance of happiness and fruition, and eternity is at its disposal.

3. Perfect safety.

(1) Safety from inward danger. "They shall never perish." Shall never fall victims to their inward corruption. The principle of life is between them and spiritual death.

(2) Safety from outward foes. "No one shall pluck them," etc. Believers are exposed to outward foes. The arch-thief and his emissaries are ever on the watch for an opportunity to steal and kill. But they are safe. "No one," etc.

(3) The safety of Divine care. "They are in his hand." They are so precious. Cost so much. So prone to wander. Their spiritual foes so anxious to have them as their prey, that they are not trusted anywhere but in Jesus' hand. They can never be taken by stealth. "They are in his hand."

(4) The safety of Almighty protection. "They are in his hand." His hand is in immediate connection with his arm, and his arm is almighty. No one can take them by force. "They are in his hand." The hand of his tender love, of his watchful care and almighty power.

IV. THE SPECIAL GUARANTEES OF THESE BLESSINGS.

1. The absolute supremacy of the Father. "The Father, which gave them me, is greater than all."

(1) Greater than all things.

(2) Greater than all wicked men and spirits. Greater than their individual force, and all their forces combined.

(3) Greater than even the Son himself. In his humiliation, official capacity, and by Divine courtesy, Jesus, as Son, naturally ascribes supremacy to the Father. "My Father is greater than all."

2. The union of the Son with the Father. "I and the Father are one."

(1) One in nature and essence.

(2) One in power and authority.

(3) One in purpose and will

3. The consequent union of believers with both. If they are in Christ's hand, they are in that of the Father; for they are one. They are thus in the impregnable fortresses of infinite power and love. Their life is divinely given and infinitely safe - hid with Christ in God. No one shall, and no one is able to, pluck them hence.

LESSONS.

1. True believers have special characteristics. They are known of Christ, and may be known of men. The sheep of Christ are marked; the marks are - they hear and follow him. Thus he knows them, and thus they may know themselves. To those who do not hear and follow, he says, "Ye are not of my sheep."

2. The enjoyment of the blessings of Christ depends upon compliance with the conditions. "They hear... and follow... and I give them," etc. This proves them to be his sheep, and ensures to them the care and defense of the good Shepherd, as well as all the blessings of the fold.

3. In the degree the conditions are complied with the blessings are enjoyed. "They follow me, and I give unto them," etc. I give as they follow. Where there is no following at all, there is no life; where the following is slack, the life is weak; but when close, life is strong and vigorous. The nearer to Jesus the greater the life. The impartation of eternal life is gradual, for the participation is gradual. As we follow he gives. We could not hold it all at once. Let us follow him more closely if we want more life.

4. The ultimate security of any one depends upon the following. The perseverance of the saints in grace to the end is a practical question. It is decided on the part of God. The Divine hand is safe. But is it decided on our part? Are we in it? "They shall never perish." Not in his hand. No one is able to pluck them out of it. Let us make sure that we are in it, and that we slip not out ourselves from it by not hearing and following Jesus. Then the question of our ultimate safety will be practically settled. - B. T.

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KJV: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

WEB: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.