“Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, ‘It is the Lord.'” “And none of His disciples durst ask Him, ‘Who art Thou? knowing that it was the Lord.” John 21:7,12
Dear Ones:
In the book of the Song of Solomon, we have a picture of a relationship between a bride and her bridegroom. It is a love relationship between one that is loved, the bride, and the Beloved, the bridegroom. Because of the great lessons, truths, and similarities between the Lord Jesus and every member of the body of Christ, His bride, we shall take the picture of this relationship, examining it, to learn some very important ways the Lord deals with those whom He loves.
Throughout this book a conversation exists, where the bridegroom is taking the initiative to gain the attention of the bride, and then to draw her out, so that she will follow him. In the gospel of John, he writes using another illustration, or picture, of this “conversation,” this time between the good Shepherd of the sheep, and His sheep. He writes: “To Him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear His voice: and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” (v.3) The first thing we notice here is that the Lord, or Shepherd, speaks to His sheep. There is the specific addressing of the Shepherd’s heart and words to the one loved. The sheep HEAR His voice. God does speak to those who trust in Him. Secondly, we see that He speaks to His loved ones, His sheep, and calls them by name. Every sheep is different, with a specific identity, gifts, calling, and purpose. The Shepherd knows every sheep by their name, and when He speaks, he brings that sheep to the point of realizing that indeed it IS the Lord who is speaking. After the resurrection, when the disciples were waiting on the Lord to know the next step, they decided to go fishing. Having caught nothing all night, the dawn breaks and Jesus is standing on the shore. He calls to them to let down their nets in a certain place. They do, and capture a large number of fish. It is John the Apostle, who first recognizes that this One on the shore is the Lord Jesus. He declares it, for He has, in a very real way, heard the voice of God, and has been drawn by Him. Now he is called to come to the shore with all the disciples and eat breakfast with the Son of God. We do not see the Lord at this moment speaking the individual names of the disciples. That would come later. However, we do see Him bring John to the realization that it is God who is dealing with them all. Peter will respond to this revelation, wholeheartedly putting on his clothing, and throwing himself into the sea, then swimming to land. The voice of God has spoken, called, evoking an individual response to the revelation of Himself.
The last thing we see in regard to the shepherd who calls His sheep is that He, “…leads them out.” The Lord first catches the attention of those He loves, and draws them to Himself. He then speaks in a specific manner, bringing the individual believer to the place where he or she is convinced that the Lord is calling them specifically, or by their name. Lastly, the God of all wisdom, “…leads them out.” How does He do this? John tells us that, “He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.” (v.4) The Lord Jesus always leads the believer by going before him, so that he can SEE the way the Shepherd goes. The believer’s responsibility is to “fix his eyes” on the Shepherd, and respond whole-heartedly to the overtures of His love and care.
In the Song of Solomon, the bride has no problem in discerning the “voice of her beloved.” However, if she is to know Him she must be unentangled in the “affairs of this life,” free to follow wholeheartedly the Beloved wherever He goes.
Dear Father, Give us grace to follow the Lord Jesus wholeheartedly, unreservedly, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad