Blessed are the Cheesemakers

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me" John 10:27.
I have always found it interesting that Jesus spoke to over thousands of people during the Sermon on the Mount without the benefit of modern technology and no one apparently had any problem hearing or understanding Him. No microphone, no speakers, no sound system. Just his voice and the natural acoustics. And, he talked at great lengths under these conditions with an audience that was kept enraptured. That's pretty amazing when you actually think about all that.
This scenario was touched upon in Monty Python's Life of Brian (funny movie, not as funny as Holy Grail though). During the Sermon on the Mount, one of the actors asks "Blessed are the cheesemakers? What's so special about them?" Didn't hear him say peacemakers. It's a humorous statement, but it's one that got me thinking.
Jesus speaks clear as day to over five thousand people without the aid of technology, and today we have a hard time hearing His voice. Some days, obviously, are clearer than others. Other days, we don't hear it at all or maybe bits and pieces and the message is unclear. It's fuzzy and we don't get all the words. At least, that's how it feels sometimes.
Yet, Jesus says that his sheep listen to his voice and they follow Him. This underscores the relationship Jesus has with each and any of his followers. We know what his voice sounds like. That's how close of a relationship we are looking at here.
Think back to a time when you were a small child, and perhaps got lost in a crowded area, like a shopping mall. The feelings going through one's mind could be sheer terror. You don't know where your parents are and everyone around you is huge and terrifying. The feelings in that situation could get quite intense (unless you were oblivious that you were lost). Thoughts could creep through your mind. The fear of never seeing your family again runs through your mind. Think of that moment.
Now, remember, the feelings when you heard your mother or father's voice when you were found. Through the entire clamor and noise going on around you, their voice cuts right to you. You hear their voice amidst all the noise clearly. You feel the joy of being found and no longer lost. The fears melt away now that you knew you were safe and secure. Unless, this got you in trouble, but at least you were safe. In that moment, you knew what true peace was.
Or, if you were playing in your neighborhood - you could always hear your mother or father's voice from the front porch. No matter if you didn't see them, you recognized the voice and you would go running. You could also tell their mood by their tone of their voice as well. That's how well you knew them. There was a safety and security in the voice. You never mistook the voice. You never went the wrong way when you heard. (unless you were in big trouble, but you would still go). You never thought it was someone else calling you. And if it was someone else calling you, you knew it wasn't the voice you always followed.
There's a safety in the voice of Jesus. There is a peace that passes all understanding. A security, a love, and a tenderness to that voice. One that removes all the fears of the world when we finally hear it.
But, like our parents voices, we sometimes ignored or misunderstood what they said. We didn't always follow what our parents told us and it is the same with Jesus. We hear it, but consciously or unconsciously ignore it.
There are obvious reasons for why we don't hear Him. Our own sins, distractions in the world, thinking we know better, or not liking what His voice is telling us. Sometimes, we follow the voices that tell us what we want to hear rather than what is best for us. Even in those moments, Jesus continues to seek us out calling our name. Much like our parents when we got lost, He doesn't give up until He finds us and we hear Him. And like the Good Shepherd, Jesus searches for the one who is missing, even when He has 100. If you were part of a large family, your parents kept looking for you even though they had more kids at home. We all go missing at many points during our lives, and Jesus calls and gets us.
Jesus clearly speaks to us every day. We know what His voice sounds like. And if you doubt, ask Him to be sure. He doesn't get upset for asking - He wants us to hear Him. He wants us to be safe and secure. Even when we do sometimes hear Him not as clearly. He's always talking to us, we just need to continue listening.