Saturday, May 7, 2022

Easter 4 Series C

John 10:27-38

Jesus’ Eternal Promise for you!

Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.[2]

Your Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. Jesus cares for you. Jesus Christ. The Son of God. Came from His Father’s throne. He left His Father’s house only to become human just like you. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Says John (John 1: 14)

Jesus entered time and space in order to rescue you – His sheep. He laid down His life for you. He took it up again. In order to give you eternal life.

By the preaching of the Gospel. He calls you to Himself. He keep you with Him forever. These are not idle words. They are you reality. You are – a sheep of Christ’s flock. A lamb of His fold. A sinner of His own redeeming.

As you hear His voice. You follow Him. For “no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.” (v. 29) This is His promise to you. Listen to the voice of your Good Shepherd: “they will never perish.” (v.28)

With all the company of heaven, your Good Shepherd gathers His flock in worship. Together. In this sacred space.

And with the church triumphant, we cry together, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:10)

Jesus finds Himself in Solomon’s colonnade. It was winter. He’s teaching at the place where the rabbis gather. The authorities circled Him and said, “If you are the Christ tell us.” (v.24)

They were looking for a political leader. They do not accept His Word. Still, He teaches with authority.

They are set to arrest Him. Seeing the works, they do not believe. Hearing. They refuse to listen.

Jesus’ words and works are not enough. They are looking for someone else.

Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice.” The sheep listen. And continue to hear His voice. Your Good Shepherd knows you. In a most intimate way. By these words, the Savior encourages us to see life beyond the here and now. He encourages us to avoid being “daily bread” Christians.

These are the Savior’s eternal promises for you.

1. Jesus tells us, “I give life eternal…And no one no, not ever, will snatch them up.”

Your Good Shepherd promises life eternal. With all the advancements in technology and medicine. The mortality rate is still 100%. Every person will one day leave this world for the final time. To face eternity.

One day. Each of us will take a walk. From one end of God’s Kingdom to the other. For the Kingdom of Grace to the Kingdom of Glory. From a place which is limited. To a world. Beyond time or space. Now we hear the Shepherd’s voice. Then we’ll see His face.

In the meantime, your Good Shepherd protect us. “No one. No. Not one. Never will be able to snatch them up.”

You have been promised – twice – That no one can ever snatch you from the Shepherd’s hand. The Lord Jesus tells you no one is able to snatch you. From His and His Father’s hand.

This signifies sure security. For all who are in Christ. This is a great promise.

2. They shall never perish.

Jesus uses strong language. “They shall not, in no wise perish, no, not for eternity.'” Because you listen. To your Shepherd’s voice. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (v.27) You hear His voice through the written Word. Every time you hear the word proclaimed. Every time you read His Word. Study His Word. Apply His Word to your life. There your Good Shepherd is speaking in His clear calm voice.

They will never perish because their life is lived through the life of Jesus the Good Shepherd. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:11-14)

Jesus gave His life on the cross as “the Good Shepherd” for His own. He, who would save others, though He had the power, did not choose to save Himself. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28).

Through His willing sacrifice, the Lord made salvation possible for all who come to Him in faith. In proclaiming that He is the Good Shepherd, Jesus “lays down” His life for His sheep only to take it up again.

3. No one will snatch them out of His hand.

Satan—is no match for the Savior. He is powerless to pluck or snatch us from either the Father’s or the Son’s hands. How could we be any more secure? The eternal life your Shepherd offers is permanent. He holds His sheep in His hand. And no one can snatch them out of His hand.

The Father gave Jesus’ sheep to Him. Who is greater than all. Who holds the sheep in His hand. No one can snatch believers out of the Father’s hand. You are eternally secure, held by the power of God.