Feeling adrift? Lost in your worries, as though your anchor lines have snapped? Are you tossed on a sea of uncertainty, clinging to anything familiar just to stay afloat? Life certainly has a way of doing that. It hurls storms into our path that leave us questioning everything, yearning for the solid ground we thought we knew.
In those moments, when we're searching for something secure, something real, the words of Jesus in John 10:27-30 offer an incredible anchor, a lifeline that speaks directly to our deepest longings for belonging and safety. These verses, so rich in comfort and power, reveal the heart of Jesus’ relationship with those who follow Him.
"My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27)
This verse, the cornerstone of the passage, paints a powerful picture. Jesus isn't a distant figure issuing commands from afar. He’s the Good Shepherd, intimately connected to His sheep (that's us, His followers). He speaks, and His sheep hear His voice. It’s not just about sound; it's about recognition. We recognize the Shepherd's voice amidst the noise of the world, a voice of truth, love, and direction. This implies a relationship, a connection built on trust and attentiveness. We listen, and we follow. And then comes that profound promise: “I know them.”
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; No one can take them out of my hand." (John 10:28)
Jesus speaks of "eternal life," not just an endless existence but a quality of life, abundant and secure, beginning now and extending into eternity. And then the stunning guarantee: those who truly belong to Him "shall never perish," and "no one will snatch them out of my hand." What a powerful image of security! Not even the strongest force, no earthly or spiritual threat, can forcibly remove us from His grasp. His hand is a place of absolute safety and unbreakable hold.
"My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all and no one can take them out of my Father’s hand." (John 10:29)
Jesus amplifies the security. His power is backed by the ultimate power, the omnipotence of God the Father. We're not just in Jesus' hand; we're in the Father's hand, too. An image of double security, the ultimate safety net. God’s strength is our guarantee.
"I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)
Jesus and the Father are "one" - united in essence, purpose, and power. This is not just a statement; it’s the bedrock of our confidence. Jesus can offer such security because He is God. His promises are backed by divine authority. His love is the love of God. His power, the power of God.
And that brings me back to a childhood memory… I was probably seven or eight years old, a typical kid. My world was small, my understanding limited. I couldn't see love. You can’t put love under a microscope or hold it in your hand. But I knew it. I felt it in my mom’s warm embrace when I cried uncontrollably over something that didn’t go my way, on my dad's strong shoulders lifting me high, and in the simple, unwavering presence of my family. It was an invisible force, but I trusted it completely. That unseen love was the foundation of my world, a safety net I knew was always there, even if I couldn’t see it. It shaped me, gave me courage, and let me explore the world without fear.
My childhood conviction—believing so firmly in a love I couldn't see—now serves as a constant reminder of the unseen love and security Jesus offers. This early experience of knowing without seeing directly parallels our relationship with Christ. We may not see Him physically, but we recognize His voice in Scripture, connect with Him in prayer, and feel the Spirit's gentle leading. His love becomes real to us through His sacrifice, His enduring promises, and His steadfast presence. And because of this, we can trust completely that He holds us, not with a fragile human grasp, but with the very strength of God Himself.
Today’s Gospel, John 10:27-30, is a declaration of divine security. When life feels like a turbulent sea, threatening to pull us under, these verses remind us that we are held by God Himself. We are in the hands of the Good Shepherd whose love is stronger than any storm, any fear, any doubt. He sees us. He knows us. He will never let us go. May we truly hear His voice and find our unshakable security in His unwavering love.