Security

John 10 vv 27-30

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

It is a universal longing – to be secure, wanted, safe, beyond the risk of failure or of loss.

It is only realised in Jesus!

If you take away His voice

His recognition

His grasp –

Take Christ away – and we are lost

Wandering

Endangered

Dying

This is at once a very simple – but a very profound word that can be summed up by reference to FOUR KEY PHRASES:

My sheep

My voice

My hand

My Father

We expound them by looking back into the rest of the Chapter.

I. My Sheep v27

The Psalmist of course saw it from the opposite side so to speak:

The LORD is MY SHEPHERD …

Here Jesus speaks simply and powerfully of “MY SHEEP”.

The heart of our security is just this – belonging to Jesus.

V3 His own sheep

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

V11 For whom He lays down His Life

11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

V14 whom He knows “I know them and they know me”

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-

Central to this belonging is His ransoming work –

“Perverse and foolish oft I strayed

but yet in love He sought me,

and on His shoulder gently laid

and home rejoicing brought me”

Are you His?

26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

II. My voice v27

27My sheep listen to my voice;

When we see sheep we are acutely aware of THEIR VOICES. The plaintive bleating, the answering call of the ewe …

In the Biblical setting it is the voice of the shepherd that gives order, direction and SECURITY.

and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

There are other voices too …

8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

At the heart of this truth about SECURITY is the principle of RECOGNITION

There are many aspects to this recognition:

He goes before

he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

His sheep do not listen to others

5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

An ear tuned to the Shepherd’s voice!

Have you heard Him?

Do your recognise Him when He speaks?

Have you followed Him?

III. My Hand v 28

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

Once again consider David’s song

What does the shepherd do with His hand?

“Where streams of living water flow

my ransomed soul he LEADETH

and where the verdant pastures grow

with food celestial FEEDETH

…on his shoulder gently laid…

Thy rod and staff my comfort still

Thou spreadst a table in my sight

Thy unction grace bestoweth

And o what transport of delight

From thy pure chalice floweth…”

It is a unique analogy – and more than an analogy – His hand is real.

Have you felt His touch?

Do you know His grip?

Do you feel His security?

His hand that healed

That bore the nails

That were raised in blessing …

His PROTECTION IS ABSOLUTE

“no one can snatch them out of my hand!”

“My name from the palms of His hands

Eternity will not erase;

Impressed on His heart it remains

In marks of indelible grace”

But even more secure:

III. My Father … vv 29,30

29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

At the heart of the Christian’s security is the Christian’s God.

Theology is not simply a study – it is all the strength we have.

We are His choice

My Father, who has given them to me,

There is no challenge to his power

is greater than all

Therefore no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand

I and my Father are one

It was for this statement that they killed Him – He claimed equality with God.

You cannot separate REAL SECURITY from Jesus

You cannot separate Jesus from His work upon the cross

You cannot have Jesus on any other terms than these

I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE

Beyond the turbulent universe this rock is sure and steadfast – Father and Son ONE.

What greater security can we have than to be His - ?

My sheep

My voice

My hand

My Father

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