John 10:25-30: a reflection

25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

Jesus describes the security of those who belong to him in words of deep assurance: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all; no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. Those who belong to Christ are held securely, in his hand and the Father's; they will never perish, and no one can take them away. Their security rests not in their own grip on Christ, but in his grip on them.

Notice where the security of Christ's sheep rests: in his hand, and the Father's, from which none can snatch them. Jesus does not say his sheep are safe because they hold tightly enough to him; he says they are safe because he holds them, and no one can snatch them out of his hand or the Father's. The Father is greater than all, and holds them securely. Their security rests not in the strength of their own grip, which might fail, but in the strength of Christ's grip on them, and the Father's, which cannot fail. They are held, and none can take them away.

That security is a deep comfort, for we can fear that we might be lost, that our own grip on Christ is too weak to hold. We can be anxious about our own faith, our own steadfastness, fearing that if we do not hold tightly enough we might slip away and perish; but Jesus says his sheep are held in his hand and the Father's, and no one can snatch them out. Your security rests not in your own grip on Christ, which might fail, but in his grip on you, which cannot fail. Do not be anxious that you might be lost, as though your safety depended on the strength of your own hold; you are held in Christ's hand and the Father's, from which no one can snatch you. Rest in the security of being held by Christ, who gives his sheep eternal life and promises they will never perish; your safety rests in his hand, greater than all, from which none can take you, as Jesus assured his sheep that no one can snatch them out of his hand or the Father's.

Lord Jesus, you describe the security of those who belong to you in words of deep assurance: my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; I give eternal life to them; they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand; my Father who has given them to me is greater than all; no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand. Those who belong to you are held securely, in your hand and the Father's; they will never perish. Their security rests not in their own grip on you, but in your grip on them. Show me where the security of your sheep rests: in your hand, and the Father's, from which none can snatch them. You do not say your sheep are safe because they hold tightly enough to you; you say they are safe because you hold them. Their security rests not in the strength of their own grip, which might fail, but in the strength of your grip on them, which cannot fail. Give me the comfort of that security, for I can fear that I might be lost, that my own grip on you is too weak to hold. I can be anxious about my own faith, fearing that if I do not hold tightly enough I might slip away; but you say your sheep are held in your hand and the Father's. My security rests not in my own grip on you, which might fail, but in your grip on me, which cannot fail. Keep me from being anxious that I might be lost, as though my safety depended on the strength of my own hold; I am held in your hand, Lord, from which no one can snatch me. Help me rest in the security of being held by you.