We will continue with John 10 where Jesus makes a very clear distinction about those who will “hear His voice.” Hearing Jesus’ voice means that your heart is willing. For those willing, God’s Spirit enables understanding to take place. Jesus often spoke in Parables and He explained His reasoning to the disciples in Luke.

He said to them, To you it has been given to [come progressively to] know (to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly) the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that, [though] looking, they may not see; and hearing, they may not comprehend. [Isa_6:9-10; Jer_5:21; Eze_12:2]

(Luke 8:10 AMPC)

Jesus links spiritual understanding to issues of the heart.

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

(Matthew 13:15 ESV)

Notice that He says their “heart” has grown dull. He says that they have closed their eyes and ears. This was their own doing. He says that if they would hear and understand they would “turn” and I would heal them. The religious word “repent” simply means to “change your mind.” It has the idea of turning from one direction to another.

The responsibility for receptivity is clearly placed on the people. If they would open their hearts to God, He would supernaturally allow them to “hear His voice.” Remember that God “resists the proud but gives grace (divine help) to the humble.” While no one can come to Jesus “unless the Father draws them,” God has told us in scripture the type of heart that He draws.

All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

(Isaiah 66:2 ESV)

Once a person has become “poor in spirit,” Jesus said “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is not to say that being “poor in spirit” is a good work that causes someone to earn the kingdom but rather it is a disposition of the heart that God has stated He chooses to give grace to.

At that time Jesus began to say, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth [and I acknowledge openly and joyfully to Your honor], that You have hidden these things from the wise and clever and learned, and revealed them to babies [to the childish, untaught, and unskilled]. Yes, Father, [I praise You that] such was Your gracious will and good pleasure.

(Matthew 11:25-26 AMPC)

God literally hides Himself from those who are playing pride games with Him. But He gives more knowledge to the lowly in heart that recognize their need for God.

For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand.

(Matthew 13:12-13 AMPC)

In the next video from John 10, Jesus refers to the those that hear His voice as “His sheep.”

The Good Shepherd (2:47)

He says that they will “follow His voice” and will not “follow someone else.” He said “I am the gate for the sheep.” This amazing passage reveals an intimacy that Jesus has with “His sheep.” He says “I know my sheep, and they know me.” He does not explain how this happens but other scriptures later in John explain it well. We will cover these passages in future videos but will excerpt them now…

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever-- The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.

(John 14:16-17 AMPC)

Notice that Jesus promised His disciples that He would send a helper who would supernaturally reveal Himself and allow “His sheep” to know and recognize Him. He would live with and in them. Notice that He links the Holy Spirit’s work with their ability to experience Jesus Himself coming to them.

I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you. Just a little while now, and the world will not see Me any more, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you.

(John 14:18-20 AMPC)

Are You the Messiah? (3:33)

The Father, Spirit, and Christ Himself are all promised to live in those who trust in Jesus. When you get the Spirit, you get the Father and the Son as well. They are a package deal and cannot be separated. Notice the relational oneness His sheep have with Him.