November 6 – No One Can Snatch Us Away

A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words (Jesus claim that He was the good shepherd, that He would lay down His life for His sheep, and that His Father gave Him authority). Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?" Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?" At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:19-30

The Feast of Dedication is the feast that we know as the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah in December (December 9-16, 2012). It celebrates the miracle that oil in the temple lamps didn’t go out for eight days when there was only one day’s supply of oil available. That was in 165 BC when the temple was reopened and rededicated after it had been desecrated in 168 BC by the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. This is not a festival that was commanded by God…and it is not even written about in the Old Testament or any part of the Bible. It is a story that is part of the First and Second Maccabees, apocryphal books. It is not a festival that requires attendance at a Jewish synagogue. 

At this Feast of Dedication Jesus tells the Jews who were questioning Him point blank—“I told you, and you do not believe….” Yet they still did not believe Him—didn’t believe IN Him! The section of verses before this says that He has other sheep that are not of this fold (Jewish) and He must bring them, too. He was referring to the Gentiles. His sheep, including the Gentiles, hear His voice and follow. He is promising to give them eternal life—no one can snatch them out of God's hand. What a comforting promise—no one can take us away from our God and thus from our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We can turn our back on Jesus—but He won’t let anyone take us away from Him—and He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He is telling us—if we hear His voice and respond then we will have eternal life—with Him forever! Do you hear His voice? There is an old hymn that says…Jesus is calling softly and tenderly, calling for sinners to come home. Home is to be with Jesus—and that will someday be in Heaven for those who respond to His call. 

When Jesus says “I and the Father are one” He is saying that they are in unity, not that they are one person. Their nature and actions are the same. We can strive to be like Jesus, but we can never be God—or any god. We are merely humans and there is only ONE GOD. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24. Some people believe that one day when they go to heaven that they will be a god of their own universe.  Go ahead and search the scriptures—that is not what it says. 

  Dear Jesus—Please give us insight into Your word that we would understand what You are telling people in Biblical times—and today. Guide our heart, soul, mind, and strength as we hear Your voice.

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© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).