John 10:2-5, 26-27 “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers . . . But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

The Lord’s sheep are recognized by being led by the shepherd, “he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him:”(vs.4). Jesus is specific in this matter! He even goes so far as to say, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him.” True sheep follow the shepherd. The text reveals two things about the shepherd’s leading of the sheep. The very first thing we notice is the control in leading, “he goeth before them.” The sheep are not leading the shepherd! The word “before” means in front of in place and time. The movement of the sheep is determined by the will of the shepherd. This great truth is reinforced in the “Model Prayer” (Matthew6:9-15). When praying, the believer is to pray, “Thy will be done.” The word “done” means to cause to be or to come into being. It is God’s will that we should desire and want to come into being in our lives. David said in Psalm 23:2, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” The second thing we notice is the companionship in leading, “the sheep follow him.” The word “follow” denotes union, to be in the same way or to accompany. The hireling may desert and abandon the sheep, but the Good Shepherd will never leave His sheep. In the face of danger, “The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep” (vs.13). The Lord has given us a promise, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Wherever the Lord determines to lead His sheep, you can take comfort in knowing that He will be right there with them. When we relinquish control of our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer can take comfort in knowing that He is nigh for He is the Shepherd of the sheep and “he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him:”