John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
In response to “the Jews” that gathered “round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly” (John 10:24); “Jesus” said, “My sheep … follow me”. Many didn’t “follow” Him because they “believed not: the works that” He did in His “Father’s name” (John 10:25), and they “believe not, because” they were “not of” His “sheep” (John 10:26). The works He did were His “witness” that He is the Messiah/Christ, the Son of God, and truly God. Because they were not of His “sheep”, they had not been given Spiritual Birth (John 3:1-8), and without the “faith” (Hebrews 11:1; 12:2) that comes with Spiritual Birth they could not and did not “believe” in him. Without “faith”, even the most extraordinary miracles could not convince them. But, those who have this blessed “faith”, “love” Him and “know” Him, and strive with all diligence to “keep” His “commandments” (John 14:15). And, “his commandments are not grievous” to us (I John 5:3) because we “love” Him and “know” Him as our Lord, Master, Savior, King, High Priest, the Son of God, and our “Good Shepherd”. The Lord’s “sheep” are overwhelmingly constrained by the “love of God” (II Corinthians 5:14) to “deny” themselves “and take up” their “cross daily, and follow” Him (Luke 9:23). The carnal joys and desires they “deny” themselves and the “cross” of trials and tribulations they endure are nothing when compared to the joy of dwelling under the Loving Watch-care of our “Good Shepherd” and enjoying the Brotherly Fellowship of His “sheep”.