At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to 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 Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My 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. I and the Father are one.”” (John 10:22–30, ESV)Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jesus is in the temple. It is Hanukkah. We think of it as Jewish Christmas. For Jews it commemorates the dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem. The building of it marked their return from exile in Persia. Zerubbabel and Joshua (not the Joshua associated with Moses, but the High Priest at the time) had it built by decree from Cyrus the Great, King of Persia. The temple itself was an important theological and cultural symbol for them. God was present there. The sacrificial system was daily practiced. It was the center of atonement, purification and forgiveness. Jesus is there. The Jews believed that the Messiah would come to that temple. And there he was standing among them.
The significance of the temple, and Jesus standing in it, can’t be overestimated. The question they ask is pregnant with meaning. How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. It is the right question, in a way. If Jesus is the Messiah (the Christ), then their long wait is over.
But there is an issue. They say, tell us plainly. Jesus must have been exasperated. I have told you. And you didn’t listen, you don’t believe. The word believe is a faith word πίστις, in Greek. It holds the meaning to assent, trust in the speaker, and commit the heart. Their unbelief isn’t just not knowing, it is willful, ongoing unbelief, regardless of what he says. You refuse to believe. You reject the Holy Spirit. No matter how many times he tells them plainly, they won’t believe.
Jesus drives the point home. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, Jesus hasn’t only said who he is, but he has shown it to them by his words, his miracles and his redemptive mission, all that he does in obedience to the Father. And yet, with all of that, they refuse to believe. but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. It is the clincher. They have no faith, they can’t believe. They are not among Jesus’ sheep.
Just think about that for a moment. They are not Jesus’ sheep. Jesus judges them and finds them lacking. There they stand, looking into the face of forgiveness. Despite all they believe that the Messiah is coming, that he would stand in that temple, that he would do the works of God, the Father, that he would give the words of eternal life, and they are committing the only unforgivable sin. They lack faith in the Messiah standing right there, where God said he would be. There is no forgiveness for them. They are still in their sins, and hell bound.
This text is a stark reminder about what is at stake. God judges the heart according to faith. Faith is the key, the all-important fact that determines our eternal destination.
If we look at the Gospel of Matthew (25:31-46) we see this played out at the final judgement. Jesus says, [the Father] will place the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left... ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom.’ They are blessed because My sheep here my voice, I know them, and they follow me. The sheep are known by Jesus; they belong to him. They are saved. It’s not because of what they do, what they do is because they belong to Jesus.
The goats, on the Father’s left, are those who do not know Jesus, and Jesus doesn’t know them. They do not serve him because they don’t have faith. They have rejected the Savior’s voice.
The contrast couldn’t be stronger. Jesus spells it our for them.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My 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.Jesus outlines a faithful relationship with him.
My sheep hear my voice – The Word of God, comes to us from outside of ourselves. It sinks into our ears. It impresses on our minds. It does what God sends it to do.
Jesus knows them – Jesus has intimate knowledge of those who have faith in him for salvation. It was on the cross that he displays exactly what it means. He knows each of us, his sheep, so personally that he does what is most necessary for us. He brings forgiveness of sins through his death on the cross. So personal is his knowledge of you, that if you were the only Christian ever, his response would have been the very same. He would have died on the cross for you only.
He gives them eternal life – He gives. It is a gift, not deserved by you. Nothing you do can make Jesus love you more. All your works are nothing, compared to faith. Faith in Jesus, and all that he has done is the key. This life isn’t just for the future either. Jesus says it begins with faith. Right now.
They will never perish – Jesus is speaking in the strongest terms here. They will absolutely never, ever perish. There isn’t any doubt. It isn’t they will probably not perish. This is one of the strongest statements of Christian security in the whole bible. Jesus’ sheep will absolutely never, ever perish.
No one can snatch them – It is a double grip. I and the Father are one. The Father and the Son are both gripping you. Holding on to Jesus’ sheep. You are not saved because you hold fast to Jesus, but because he and the Father hold fast to you. And no one, or no thing is greater than that grip. Not Satan and his demons, not the world’s hatred and persecution, not even your own sin and doubt. And not death. It’s bind on you was broken when Jesus rose from his tomb.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38–39, ESV)Your past sins are forgiven. They won’t snatch you out of Jesus hand. Your present struggle with sin won’t pull you away either. Jesus died on the cross to ensure his grip on you, even in your weakness. And all your future failures are forgiven, done and paid for. His sheep are held tightly, and no one, not even yourself, can snatch you out of his hand.
It’s a sheep thing. That’s who you are through faith in Jesus. He is the shepherd. He stands guard over you. When you stray, he comes to get you. When you are in danger, he protects you. When you are hungry, he feeds you. Psalm 23 is loved by Christians, because it says all that it means to have faith. Why don’t we, as the sheep of the Shepherd say it together.
Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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