“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
Jesus is speaking of intimacy here. He knows His sheep; He knows each one of them, individually. He doesn’t just know the flock, He knows each sheep. And His knowledge of His sheep is deep and full and complete. But there are two sides to this coin of intimacy. Not only does He know His sheep, but His sheep know Him. Their knowledge of Him is to also be full and deep and complete. Life’s goal is to attain this knowledge of our Shepherd.