When Jesus Says What We Don't Want to Hear

“My sheep hear my voice,” Jesus says in Sunday's gospel reading (John 10:22-30). “I know them, and they follow me.” 

I want that to be true—for me, for you, for all of us. I want to believe that we hear His voice and that we always follow Him. 

But if I'm honest, I’m not always sure we do.

We live in an incredibly noisy world, don’t we? A world filled with countless voices clamouring for our attention. 

Advertisements, social media, news alerts, podcasts, and even well-meaning friends and family—it seems that everywhere we turn, someone is speaking. 

And amidst all that noise, hearing the gentle, guiding voice of our Shepherd can feel like trying to catch a whisper in a hurricane.

Reflect on your past week. How many voices have you heard vying for your attention? Some of them are quite persuasive, aren’t they? Companies spend millions crafting advertisements tailored specifically for us, convincing us that we need their products to be happier, healthier, more successful, or more accepted. Technology understands us better than ever, curating content designed to keep us scrolling, clicking, and buying.

Have you ever had that eerie moment when you talk about needing, say, a power washer, and the next time you open your social media, there it is—an ad for power washers? Our devices hear us. They know us. And often, we respond to their call more readily than we do the voice of our Shepherd.

However, those voices are false shepherds. They make promises they cannot keep. There is only one true Shepherd, and today, we are reminded to listen to His voice. For at the end of the day, there is only one voice that truly matters to our souls: the voice of Jesus Christ.

So, why do we not always hear His voice? And how might we hear it?

1. Jesus Isn’t Saying What We Expect

One reason we miss Jesus’ voice is that He doesn’t say what we expect. In John 10, the Jewish leaders were right there, listening to Jesus. But they didn’t really hear Him. 

They expected the Messiah to be a military leader like King David, someone who would overthrow Rome and restore Israel’s glory. Jesus didn’t fit that mould. His message was different, and because it didn’t align with their expectations, they missed it.

Isn’t that true for us as well? We approach Jesus with our own expectations. We anticipate Him to affirm our opinions, bless our plans, or resolve our problems in particular ways. When He speaks differently—calling us to forgive instead of retaliating, to serve rather than be served, to trust in uncertainty—we might entirely miss His voice.

In today’s world, we’re quick to filter voices through our own biases. We listen for confirmation, not transformation. However, to hear Jesus, we must have an open heart. Let His words challenge us, change us, and lead us in unexpected ways.

2. We Feel Too Ashamed to Listen

Another reason we struggle to hear Jesus is shame. Our mistakes, failures, and sins weigh heavily upon us, convincing us that we are unworthy of His voice. It mirrors the reaction that Adam and Eve had in the Garden of Eden. After their sin, they hid from God, feeling ashamed and afraid (Genesis 3:8-10).

We do the same, don’t we? We hide behind busy schedules, excuses, or even religious rituals, afraid to confront our brokenness. I’ve met people who avoid church because they feel they need to “get their act together” first. But that’s not the gospel. Church isn’t a hotel for saints; it’s a hospital for sinners.

That is why many worship services commence with confession and forgiveness. We recognise our unworthiness, not to dwell in guilt but to embrace God’s grace. Jesus does not wait for us to tidy ourselves up. He encounters us in our chaos, utters words of forgiveness, and rejuvenates our hearts. Only then can we genuinely hear His voice.

3. He’s Saying Something We Don’t Want to Hear

Sometimes, we don’t hear Jesus because He’s saying something we don’t want to hear.

Consider Jonah. God commanded him to go to Nineveh, but Jonah was reluctant. Consequently, he fled in the opposite direction. 

Likewise, there was the rich young ruler who approached Jesus to inquire about inheriting eternal life. Jesus instructed him to sell his possessions and give to the poor. The man departed sorrowfully because he had vast wealth (Mark 10:17-22).

We’re no different. We love hearing Jesus say, “Come to me, all who are weary,” but we hesitate when He says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” His call often challenges our comfort zones, priorities, and desires, requiring surrender.

But here’s the remarkable part: even when we resist, Jesus continues to call. At times, He employs life’s hardships to capture our attention. 

C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Like a persistent shepherd, Jesus seeks out His lost sheep. Regardless of how far we wander, His voice summons us back, offering grace, purpose, and peace.

Recognising the Shepherd’s Voice

In John 10, Jesus does not refer to us as "followers” or “disciples"; rather, he describes us as "sheep.” While this may not seem like a compliment, it serves as a profound image.

In Jesus’ time, shepherds often gathered at communal watering holes, their flocks mingling. Imagine the noise—hundreds of sheep, shepherds chatting, a chaotic scene. But when it was time to leave, each shepherd simply called, and their sheep followed. 

Why? Because the sheep recognised their shepherd’s voice.

Despite the noise, they knew who to follow.

That’s what Jesus invites us into—a relationship so personal, so intimate, that we recognise His voice even amidst life’s chaos. It’s not about perfect listening but about familiarity. The more time we spend with Jesus—in Scripture, in prayer, in worship—the more attuned we become to His voice.

The Voice That Leads Us Home

At the end of the day, many voices will vie for our attention. However, only one voice leads us home. Jesus states, “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”

Regardless of how noisy life becomes, and regardless of how often we miss His call, His voice endures. Steady. Faithful. Loving.

May we learn to quieten our hearts, attune our ears, and follow the voice of our true Shepherd. 

For His is the voice that guides us to peace, purpose, and, ultimately, home.

Loving Father, amidst the noise and chaos of our hectic lives, help us to hear Your gentle voice calling us by name. Calm the distractions, ease our restless hearts, and attune our ears to Your words of truth, love, and grace.

When we expect You to speak in certain ways, remind us to listen with open hearts, ready to receive whatever You have to say. When shame and guilt make us feel unworthy, cover us with Your mercy and remind us that Your love never fails. When Your words challenge us to step beyond our comfort zones, give us the courage to follow wherever You lead.

Teach us to discern Your voice above all others. Guide us, lead us, and draw us ever closer to You. For we are Your sheep, and You are our Shepherd. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.