“I give them eternal life, and 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, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29 ESV).
Those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior belong to Him and are eternally secure in Him. He saves them and He keeps them. And His Father, who gives them to Him, keeps them safe too, so that no one is able to “snatch” them from His care. Jesus is able to make this claim because He and the Father are “one” (John 10:30).
Jesus’ claim to be “one” with the Father is one of the central themes of John’s gospel, which gives seven of Christ’s “I AM” statements. These statements were profound to Jewish ears for literally in the Greek, Jesus said, “I, I am…”, emphasizing the “I AM,” which is the covenantal name of God first revealed to Moses at the burning bush. When Moses asked God’s name, God said, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” (Ex. 3:14). So, “I AM” or as it is in the Hebrew, “Yahweh,” is the name of God.
Two of Christ’s seven “I AM” statements are found in John chapter 10: “I AM the Door” and “I AM the Good Shepherd.” Jesus is both the “shepherd” who calls and leads His sheep and the door by which they enter His fold and are kept safe. It’s like Jesus is the door and the lock, and the Father is the deadbolt.
Dear believer, be assured in this.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for calling us to follow Your Son. For He is both the Door and the Good Shepherd who gives us eternal life and keeps us for eternity. Thank You for our this wonderful assurance we have in Jesus. For it’s in His name we pray, amen.