Our Security for Eternity - the Gospel of John Sample

Read: John 10:22–42

SOAP: John 10:27–28

“My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.”

Jesus’ claim to be the Good Shepherd occurred at the end of the Feast of Shelters, a feast celebrated in autumn. The events of the Feast of Dedication celebrated several months later, come immediately after the Feast of Shelters in John’s Gospel. However, we continue to learn how Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Although the events did not occur immediately after one another, John uses both scenes to drive home the truth that Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

During the feast, the Jewish leaders asked Jesus to tell them outright if He was the Messiah. Jesus would not tell them. After reading John’s Gospel, we know that Jesus is the Messiah. We’ve seen Jesus claim to be the Messiah with the Samaritan woman. We’ve also seen Jesus’ disciples declare Him as the Messiah after seeing the signs He performed. But these Jewish leaders refused to believe these signs and claims.

Jesus’ response poses a question we all must ask: am I one of Jesus’ sheep? Do I listen to His voice and follow Him? If we are His sheep, we have eternal life, and nothing can separate us from Him. He is the Good Shepherd who protects and defends His sheep. If we believe Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to eternal life, we are His sheep. As His sheep, we are not only protected by Jesus, the Good Shepherd but we are held by God the Father.

Jesus explicitly expressed His oneness with God the Father. The Jewish leaders wanted to stone Him for claiming to be God. If we are His sheep, we believe not only that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but that Jesus is one with the Father. One of the core doctrines of the Christian faith is the belief in the triune nature of God, that He is one God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is good news for all who believe in Him—for the same power of God exists in the Son, the Good Shepherd, the One who saves us from sin and death and offers us eternal life.