I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28 WEB
During the Festival of Dedication, Hanukkah, at the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem, Jews approached Jesus asking him to plainly reveal whether or not he is the Messiah. Jesus responded to them in John 10:25 saying, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. WEB” In his actions and speech, Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah, but the spiritually blind did not believe. For those who did believe, Jesus proclaimed, “they will never perish.”
Up to that time and after, Jesus taught the word God and performed miracles. He allowed people to worship him. Jesus openly claimed to be the Son of God. In addition, Jesus had said in John 8:58 , “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I Am. WEB” These words reference the name of God, “I Am,” from Moses’ interaction with God in Exodus 3:14. In using this language, Jesus asserted his divinity.
Not of This World
Addressing his doubters, Jesus said in John 8:42, “If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. KJV” With these words, Jesus contends that those who reject him falsely claim that God is their Father. In rejecting Jesus, they reject the word of God. Their hearts do not recognize the voice of God. As Christ said in John 10:26-27, “But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. WEB”
For those who know him and recognize him as the Messiah, Jesus promises eternal life. But most Jews believed the Messiah would establish a new political order here on earth. In subsequent scripture, Jesus revealed his kingdom as spiritual and eternal. We read in John 18:36, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here. WEB”
One With the Father
Saying of his followers, “they will never perish,“ Jesus enraged those who rejected his message. Their anger stemmed from their unwillingness to accept the authority Jesus asserted as the Messiah. This is because he proclaimed to be the exact likeness of God on earth. As Jesus said of his followers, “they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand,” he also says of God in John 10:29-30, “My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one. WEB”
Most simply could not accept the idea of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Although scripture teaches of God and the Holy Spirit, only a few perceived the Messiah as the Son of God in Jewish text. But Christ was with God in the beginning. When the Lord said in Genesis 1:26, “Let’s make man in our image,” Jesus was there with our heavenly Father as the agent of creation. As we read in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. WEB”
The Word of God is Jesus Christ. Everything he did and said came from our heavenly Father. As the gospel reveals in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. WEB” The grace of God is to give salvation to those who believe in Jesus in obedience to our heavenly Father. They will never perish.
Everlasting Life
To have eternal life is to know God and his Son, our Savior. For this reason, Christ said in John 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. WEB”
But what does it mean to know God and Christ? Jesus makes this clear in Matthew 7:21-23 as he said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’ WEB”
Christ calls us to repent from our sins and join the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 4:17, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. WEB” For those who accept Christ’s call, they will never perish. As we read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. KJV”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the truth of your holy word. Thank you for my salvation and for saving my brothers and sisters in Christ. Because of your grace, we will never perish. Guide me to do your will. Help me to live and love in a way that is pleasing to you. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Judges With Evil Thoughts
