Joh 10:30 | KingComments | STEP | In the face of the unbelief of the Jews that makes them not His sheep, the Lord gives three characteristics of those He calls “My sheep”. First of all, they hear the voice of the Shepherd. This hearing is the recognition of His voice through which they remain with Him. The second is not that they know Him, but that He knows them. That He knows them is more than that they know Him (cf. ). Their knowledge of Him is always limited, but His knowledge of them is perfect and in perfect love. He knows them with all their thoughts and feelings, their words and ways, their dangers and difficulties, their past, present and future. The third is that they follow Him. Faith is alive and practical. It also means that He goes out ahead of them, He Who knows them and also knows the circumstances they have to go through. That is a great safety and security. He gives them eternal life, that is His life, that is Himself as eternal life ( ). The life He gives cannot perish. It cannot be corrupted and overthrown by an inner weakness. Also from the outside, there is no power that can ruin this life, for what power would there be that could snatch them out of the hand of Him Who has all the power in heaven and on earth ( )? His protection goes beyond that. He speaks of the Father’s love for them, for the sheep have been given to Him by the Father. This does not mean that the Father no longer possesses them, but that the Father has placed them in the care of the Son. Could there be a power imaginable that could snatch out of that mighty hand what the Father has given to the Son, but over which He still holds His protective hand outstretched? He is greater than any power ( ; ; ; cf. ). The Lord Jesus finishes the assurance of the sheep in His hand and in that of the Father by pointing out that He and the Father are one. Separately they are both omnipotent and no power is able to snatch His own out of the hand of either the Son or the Father. If the Lord therefore points to the unity of the Father and the Son, that is an abundant declaration of assurance and security. The Son’s saying this is also the highest declaration of holy love and unlimited power. No one can speak of this except He Who is the Son. He speaks of the mysteries of the Godhead with the intimate familiarity inherent to the only begotten Son Who is in the bosom of the Father. They are one, that is not as Person, for they are two Persons, but one in their Divine nature or being. Those Who are one like that are also one in the fellowship of Divine love and protection for the sheep.

‏ John 10:30

The Protection of the Sheep

In the face of the unbelief of the Jews that makes them not His sheep, the Lord gives three characteristics of those He calls “My sheep”. First of all, they hear the voice of the Shepherd. This hearing is the recognition of His voice through which they remain with Him.

The second is not that they know Him, but that He knows them. That He knows them is more than that they know Him (cf. Gal 4:9a). Their knowledge of Him is always limited, but His knowledge of them is perfect and in perfect love. He knows them with all their thoughts and feelings, their words and ways, their dangers and difficulties, their past, present and future.

The third is that they follow Him. Faith is alive and practical. It also means that He goes out ahead of them, He Who knows them and also knows the circumstances they have to go through. That is a great safety and security.

He gives them eternal life, that is His life, that is Himself as eternal life (1Jn 5:20). The life He gives cannot perish. It cannot be corrupted and overthrown by an inner weakness. Also from the outside, there is no power that can ruin this life, for what power would there be that could snatch them out of the hand of Him Who has all the power in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18)?

His protection goes beyond that. He speaks of the Father’s love for them, for the sheep have been given to Him by the Father. This does not mean that the Father no longer possesses them, but that the Father has placed them in the care of the Son. Could there be a power imaginable that could snatch out of that mighty hand what the Father has given to the Son, but over which He still holds His protective hand outstretched? He is greater than any power (Exo 18:11; 2Chr 2:5; Psa 135:5; cf. 1Jn 4:4).

The Lord Jesus finishes the assurance of the sheep in His hand and in that of the Father by pointing out that He and the Father are one. Separately they are both omnipotent and no power is able to snatch His own out of the hand of either the Son or the Father. If the Lord therefore points to the unity of the Father and the Son, that is an abundant declaration of assurance and security.

The Son’s saying this is also the highest declaration of holy love and unlimited power. No one can speak of this except He Who is the Son. He speaks of the mysteries of the Godhead with the intimate familiarity inherent to the only begotten Son Who is in the bosom of the Father. They are one, that is not as Person, for they are two Persons, but one in their Divine nature or being. Those Who are one like that are also one in the fellowship of Divine love and protection for the sheep.