The Voice of Jesus

READ: JOHN 10:1-30; 1 JOHN 3:19-24

Growing up in my village with my parents was a joyful and fulfilling experience. But I realize now that there are many things I did not bother to observe keenly during those years. My mum reared some local chickens at home, but I did not take an interest in observing their behavior. Years later, as an adult living on my own, I decided to rear local hens myself. After the hens hatched their eggs, I kept the mother hens and their chicks together in one shelter during the night, and then in the morning I let them all out at the same time.

One morning after opening the shelter, I stood by the chicken house door just to see what would happen to the now mixed-up chicks. Would the chicks recognize their particular mothers, or would they just follow any of the mother hens? I wondered. Then I observed that each mother hen, as she came out of the shelter, was letting out certain sounds. To my surprise and amazement, each chick began to run in the direction its mother’s sounds were coming from. Each chick knew and recognized their own mother’s sounds immediately. In no time at all, each hen had her own chicks with her.

Something similar happens with humans. A newborn baby learns to recognize their mother’s voice as she continually talks to them. As a result, the baby learns to differentiate her voice from others’ voices even without seeing her physical form.

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice, recognize it, and follow Him. We learn to recognize His voice as we spend time with Him in reading His Word and waiting in His presence in prayer. His written Word is His voice speaking to us. He also speaks to us through His Holy Spirit, who lives inside Christians. Because Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), when He speaks to us we experience peace in our hearts. • Charity Kiregyera

• Why do you think Jesus compared Himself to a mother hen in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34?

• How can you tell whether it is the LORD speaking to you? When God speaks to us, He does not contradict His written Word, so the more we become familiar with the Bible, the easier it is to recognize His voice. And even when Jesus convicts us of sin, He brings hope and peace, not condemnation and fear (John 3:17). As we learn to listen to God’s voice, why is it important to be in community with fellow Christians?

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV)