“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand” – John 10:28-29
LIGHT FOR NOW: Eternal life is the very life of God taking up residence in a man.
In this verse, Jesus expands on the metaphors he used earlier in this chapter. Jesus explained that those who are his are like sheep – they only respond to the voice of their own shepherd. How a person reacts to Jesus proves whether they are, or are not part of His flock (John 10:1-6). Jesus also claimed to be like the single opening in a sheep pen: “the door” which was the only means of finding rescue from danger (John 10:7-9). Jesus speaks these words while being overtly threatened by His critics. They’ve cornered Him in an awkward spot in the temple and are daring him to repeat his claims (John 10:22-24). Rather than simply repeat them, Jesus is expounding on them.
This statement is a crucial part of our understanding of the gospel. Jesus has already made it clear that there are only two categories of people spiritually speaking: those who are in, and those who are out. These two groups are separated by Jesus Christ, who is the door. Those who belong to Christ are safe from being taken away, as a wolf might grab a sheep in the wild (John 10:12). Here, Jesus uses the same Greek word found in His description of a wolf that snatches a sheep. Those who are part of Jesus’ flock cannot be taken away. Jesus also makes a clear reference to the nature of eternal life he offers; it is permanent and irrevocable. The eternal life granted by Jesus to his sheep cannot and will not ever be stolen, revoked or lost. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Give voice to God’s word in your words.
CONFESSION: I have the very life of God on my inside. I am of the God-kind and of the God-class because the very life of God is my nature, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
QUOTE: You are of the God-kind and the God-class because the God-kind of life is your kind of life.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 9; EVENING: MATTHEW CHAPTER 10
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 