Aug 1, 2021
Scripture Reading: John 10:19-30
The good shepherd promises to do several things for His sheep in this passage. He calls them to Himself (Jn 10:3) … He leads His sheep (Jn 10:3) … He gives them abundant life (Jn 10:10) … He lays down His life for His sheep (Jn 10:11) … He knows them (Jn 10:14).
John 10:28 contains another wondrous promise which Jesus declares concerning His sheep … "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." This is the promise of rescue from everlasting damnation ("they will never perish"), the promise of the experience of life forever ("I give them eternal life"), and the promise of unconquerable security ("no one will snatch them out of my hand").
There are no promises imaginable that are greater than what Jesus is promising to His sheep. The staggering blessings described here are rooted in the act of God the Father, who gave these sheep to His Son. "The Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
Repeatedly, in the gospel of John, Jesus speaks of the Father giving him some people (cf. Jn 6:37; 17:2,6,11,12,24). Let us be thrilled that this is how our salvation has come to be. God, in his grace, gave us to the Son. Jesus laid down His life to bring His sheep to Himself and grant them eternal life. This is the Father's will and design and He is greater than all. Christ is our only hope in life and death and no one is able to separate us from the love of Christ. No earthly security comes close to matching that strength-producing delight.