Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

Shepherds were watching their flocks by night when suddenly an angel appeared, which frightened them terribly, and said to them, "'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.' And it came about when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds began to saying to one another, 'Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. And when they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them." (Luke 2:10-20). What a glorious sight to behold, as Isaiah prophesied concerning this Child, "Behold, the Lord God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense with Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes." (Isaiah 40:10-11).

That brings us to our question, "How do the sheep know Him?". Jesus says, concerning His mission, "I am the Good Shepherd; The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is the hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." (John 10:11-15). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will take care of His sheep and will even lay down His life for them, which will include other sheep, namely the Gentiles, on His own initiative (John 10:16-18).

And so for the answer to our question, we see a division arose between those who heard His statements as some said, "'He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?' Others were saying, 'These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?'". They then ask Him, "'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Fathers name, bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of my hand." (John 10:20-28).

So there we have the answer to our question, as the sheep will know Him because they "hear His voice" and they believe in Him, not like those who hear His voice and did not believe Him, but charged that He had a "demon" or was "insane", even though they saw the miracles He performed, they saw, and yet they were blind! Jesus says some would try to enter by another way into the fold of the sheep, "Truly truly I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way , he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he does before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." (John 10:1-5).

May we reach maturity and recognize the door that leads to life by hearing His word, believing Him, repenting of our sins (Acts 2:37-28), confessing Him before men (Romans 10:9), and washing our sins in that watery grave of baptism (Romans 6:3-6), and only enter through the true door for life, "And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 3:21). Stand before God in good conscience by obedience to Him for that home eternal!