The sheep of the Good Shepherd Jesus hear His Voice, follow Him and shall never perish
John 10:22–30 (NKJV)
The Opposition at the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem
22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
Message
I. The Jews didn’t believe the Good Shepherd Jesus despite the Works of God He performed (22-26)
See v22-25.
22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.
The works of God Jesus performed is one of the five witnesses (Jesus, John, the works, the Father, the Scriptures) (John 8:14, 5:31-40). The blind man knew ‘one thing’ so obvious that no one could deny, that is, the healing of his blindness (John 9:25). Jesus said, “…though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” (John 10:38, See also John 14:11) But the Jews still didn’t believe. Jesus says the reason. See v26.
26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
The sheep ‘hear’ (‘know’) the voice of the (good) shepherd (John 10:3, 4, 14, 16, 27). As a result, they understand his (or His) words (John 8:43) and believe (John 8:46). On the contrary, those who do not believe are not of His sheep (26).
II. His sheep hear His voice, follow Him, and shall never perish (27-30)
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
The good shepherd knows the sheep (John 10:14, 27) and they follow Him (John 10:4, 27).
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
‘eternal life’ is defined in John 17:3. ‘never perish’ is also ‘never die’ (John 11:26). Jesus is the resurrection and life. The believer shall live even if he may die physically (John 11:25) and he shall never die spiritually (John 11:26). ‘neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand’ is expressed in Romans 8:38-39. See Romans 8:38–39 NKJV.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
See v29-30.
29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.”
The Father is greater than all, which supports the reason that no one can snatch His sheep out of the Father’s hand. The Son and the Father are one. So, the Son is greater than all and no one can snatch His sheep out of His hand.
