JUNE 30, 2025 – WORKS

READ: John 10:22–42: … neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand …

The Lord Jesus is in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Dedication, commemorating the rededication of the temple after liberation from Antiochus Epiphanes.

Jesus is walking in Solomon’s colonnade in the temple when Jews approach Him, asking whether He will finally tell them plainly if He is the Christ, the Messiah. But they are trying to trap Him. If He says yes, they plan to accuse Him of rebellion against the emperor.

But the Lord sees right through them. What hostility! He calmly responds: “I told you, and you do not believe.” He points to the evidence—His divine miracles done in the name of the Father. The problem is that they do not believe. Even though His miracles are extraordinary and could not be done by a mere man, the Jews refuse to believe in Jesus.

Faith comes from above, but unbelief is from Satan and belongs to sinful humanity.

Jesus then connects this to His parable of the Shepherd and the sheep: “You are not My sheep, who know My voice and follow Me.” Then He adds something remarkable to the parable: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” “I and the Father are one.” What a comforting gospel!

But right then, Satan becomes active: he stirs them to pick up stones and accuse Jesus of blasphemy, saying, “You make Yourself God.”

Still, Jesus remains calm: He is in control and again points to His works as works of the Father. “Believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

When the Jews once more try to seize Him, He escapes. Yet many come to Jesus and express their faith in Him. They believe in Him.

What does it mean to you: no one shall snatch them out of My hand?

Sing: Ps. 23:3