Sermon Summary: Jesus knows and speaks your name

His voice is unmistakable to those who belong to Him.

This sermon was given by the Rev. David Libbon at Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Cornelius, North Carolina, on March 9, 2025.

You can view the sermon here, starting 27 minutes into the service.

The text for today was John 10:1-18.

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Something powerful happens when we hear our own name. It grabs our attention and stirs something deep within us.

And when Jesus is the one calling, everything changes.

Jesus calls His followers personally, drawing them to Himself.

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

His voice is unmistakable to those who belong to Him.

Pastor David reminded us that this is what happened to Mary Magdalene on that first Easter morning. Overcome with grief, she didn’t recognize Jesus standing before her — until He spoke her name: “Mary.”

In that instant, she knew. The Good Shepherd had called, and she heard His voice.

David said:

“The Good Shepherd calls his sheep by name and they hear his voice and they follow him. Do you know that Jesus calls you by your name? Personally? Beautifully? Have you heard him call your name before? Can you hear his voice?

“Do you know this morning that you are known?”

Think about that. Jesus knows each of his followers by name. It’s not just his close friend Mary Magdalene. It’s 21st century Christians like you and me.

What does that do to your heart to know that Jesus knows you — all of you?

Because as we say every Sunday in the Collect For Purity: “Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid.”

Pastor David continued:

“Do you know the results of God knowing you from top to bottom, from inside to out? The result of God knowing you is that the Son freely lays down his life.

“The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep because he knows you, and he loves you, and that love transforms people and communities and churches and kingdoms.”

Pastor David also pointed out John 10:16, where Jesus says: “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Jesus was telling his Jewish listeners that his flock includes Gentiles (non-Jews), indicating that his mission was not only for Israel but for the whole world (John 3:16).

Jesus’ message is for all people, regardless of background, ethnicity, race, sex or culture.

David said there are about 1,300 churches in the Charlotte area. Then he asked us:

“Do you know how many churches there are in this community — how many real churches there are in Charlotte?

“There’s one. There’s only one. And that’s the church of Jesus Christ. It is his flock.

“And we might look different, and we might sound different, and we might pray different, and we might worship different — but there is only one flock and there’s only one church.”

The Good Shepherd has been a theme for me over the last few days. Click here to read about how my friend Mike Reynolds created this wonderful image of Jesus and his flock.