John 10: 22-30

by David Williams

It’s still spring. A time when we think of green fields, dotted with sheep and new born lambs, woolly and cuddly. But in first century Palestine? Not woolly, but dirty, shaggy, straggly - not cuddly! And perhaps a skinny lame sheep, hobbling along, dropping far behind the rest of the flock, following the shepherd. The lame sheep is on his own.

After six weeks of lockdown perhaps you feel like that lame sheep - alone and afraid. Not only shut in, but shut out.

Much of John 10 is all about Jesus answering the unbelieving questions of the Jews , and describing himself as a shepherd. We know we are part of his flock, trying to listen to his voice, but we are missing the live fellowship of being in church. We are feeling left out, excluded.

But Jesus is the Good Shepherd (v.11). He looks for the lost and lonely sheep (Lk. 15:3-7), because he cares for each one (1.Pet: 5-7).

Today’s passage gives us a very important promise - and it is repeated twice for emphasis (vss. 28,29).

Jesus says, “No one can snatch them out of my hand” - or his Father’s hand.

Jesus knows your situation. Jesus cares. He will never let you go.