In

youth ministry we try to communicate the message of Jesus to our

students in practical, meaningful ways. Sometimes examples from

popular culture can work pretty well. But pop culture changes

quickly. For example, if I use the phrase “where everybody knows

your name,” people familiar with the 1980s and ’90s will

immediately think of the TV show Cheers.

But barely any of my students today have ever seen or heard of that

show.

Today’s

verse reminds me of that phrase from Cheers.

Whether we admit it or not, we all like to be known. It can be

heartwarming to walk into a room of people who know and appreciate

us. It’s a setting without barriers and preconceived notions, where

people can be themselves and build one another up in love. It’s a

place of community!

Our

good shepherd, Jesus, knows us, his sheep, and is willing to lay down

his life for us. This is an incredible revelation in our journey of

discipleship. We are not following someone who doesn’t know us. Our

shepherd knows everything about us and loves all of us the same.

Our

faults don’t drive him away. Our successes don’t make him love us

any more than he already does. And above all, our shepherd shows his

love by laying down his very life for us. There’s no place we can

go and be known and loved as well as we are in the flock of Jesus.