Baa Baaa Sheep
What do you know about sheep? Did you know that there are more than 1000 distinct sheep breeds worldwide? Did you know that sheep are classified according to their primary purpose, the type of wool they grow, the color of their faces and more! Who knew? I’ve always thought they were just white, cute, wooly whatevers that are known to be “not so bright.” There are a plethora of sheep images to be found, and quite a few are most amusing.
Are you wondering why the fascination with sheep? I was reading my Bible this morning in the book of John. I came across a phrase in chapter 10 that captivated me, much like the array of images I found on sheep!
This is the phrase: “He calls his own sheep by name…” The passage is describing Jesus as the Good Shepherd. I was struck by the idea that the Good Shepherd calls each sheep by name.
As someone who believes that Jesus provides a way for me to enjoy abundant life now and forever, I am classified as a sheep in the analogy of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. So, Jesus calls me by my name. Just like there are a myriad of different types of sheep, there are myriads multiplied of different types of people. Jesus knows my name. Out of all the people in the world, Jesus, the Son of God, knows ME, by my name.
When someone knows my name well enough to call me that I assume a couple of things: 1) She knows me. She’s met me before, we’ve gained some sort of connecting point, and I shared my name with her. 2) He knows me well enough to remember my name. I stuck a cord, became part of a memory. I resonated with him to a degree that my face and my name came together, and I was remembered. 3) She is familiar with me. I don’t normally call someone in passing by their first name. If it’s a business connection I might use a professional title, or the term Mr., Mrs., or Miss with his or her last name. Someone calling me by my first name reminds me we’ve connected before, and I’m being given an opportunity to connect again, there is comfort in the familiarity. 4) He values me. I’m significant enough to be known as a specific person, not just Ma’am, or “Hey, Lady!”
To think that God, Creator of the Universe, King of Kings, and Lord of all, knows me by name and refers to me by my name is astounding. God knows me, He remembers my name and who I am, He is familiar with me, and He values me. I am someone special in the eyes of the Good Shepherd. I am someone to be cherished, treasured. I am unique, marvelously different and significant to the One who offers peace, joy and life abundant. I am Princess Nancy. I am a sheep who belongs to the Good Shepherd.
