Jesus has passed over many, many people and focused almost exclusively on this man who was born blind. He has ignored the hirelings, goats, and wolves to reveal Himself to His sheep.
Jesus knows His sheep
Long before a sheep ever grows to know the shepherd, the shepherd has known and cared for the sheep. Jesus knew the man before the man ever knew Who Jesus was. Jesus has an eternal foreknowledge of His sheep (Romans 8:29). This knowledge is a special, relational, experiential knowledge that moves beyond the knowledge that God has of wolves and goats. This knowledge is the relational knowledge that God the Father and God the Son share (John 10:15). This relational knowledge and love is what produces our love for Him (1 John 4:19). Being known by God is the true essence of salvation (Galatians 4:8-9).
The sheep know their Shepherd
A lamb will naturally grow to know its shepherd. It will grow to recognize his voice, trust him, and follow him. So it is in the Christian life. The relational knowledge that Jesus has with us will grow into us knowing Him (Matthew 11:27). This knowledge will result in a transformed life that follows Jesus’ commands (John 10:4, Romans 8:29). A life lived in disobedience demonstrates that an individual does not truly know God (Titus 1:16). Or more properly, that God does not know them (Matthew 7:23).
Application
Does God know you? Will you cry out to Him until He comes and reveals Himself to you?
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