GOOD NEWS FROM ST. JOHN
Meditations in the Gospel of St. John
St. John 10:22-30
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WHY do some people believe the Gospel and some people do not? This question is even more cogent in the context of a church congregation where all are hearing the same sermons and where the Gospel is faithfully proclaimed, but yet some never seem to understand or respond. They are religious and good, but the Gospel seems to be a closed book to them.

This is a perplexing question, but Jesus gives an answer to it in the verses before us, even if it is not a particularly palatable one.

The Jews come to Jesus again and irritably speak to him asking “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly” (v.24). In fact Jesus had made it plain that he was the Christ, the Messiah, promised in the Old Testament. Jesus points to his life and miracles which clearly give evidence of his claim to be the Messiah (v.25). Again we see this problem. However clear the proclamation concerning Christ as Saviour, and however clear the evidence in the Bible, people can still hear the evidence and read the Scriptures and study them, and not see the truth or believe it. Why is this?

The answer Jesus gives to the Jews and the answer which explains this problem is not something we perhaps like to hear. It is again this truth about Jesus being given the saved ones by the Father, even before he came into the world. This is a far too big a concept for our minds to grapple with. Further we have an in-built reaction against any idea that we do not control our destiny, or that God can give to some something he does not give to others.

What is the answer Jesus gave to the Jews. See his words in verses 26-30. The reason the Jews did not believe on Jesus, and the reason unbelief persists even when the Gospel is clearly preached, is because of not being the sheep of Jesus. (v.26). Those who are Jesus’ sheep, which are those given to Jesus by God the Father, do listen to the voice of Jesus - that is they believe on him, and trust him, and follow him as their Lord. If we are believers, it is not because we have been wiser than those who reject Jesus, or that we have something they have not got, but simply because we have been given to Jesus by God the Father before the foundation of the world - see Ephesians 1:3-10. We listen to Jesus because God in his sovereign love and grace has determined to love us, and gave us to his Son that his Son may save us from our sins.

So Jesus tells us this wonderful news about what we owe to Jesus. Firstly Jesus knows us. (v.27). We are his precious jewels, his precious sheep, and we are known and loved by him personally. Secondly Jesus gives us eternal life. Eternal life is a gift which we receive. We do not win it or merit it, but we are given it freely. Jesus gives it to us, because according to the will of God the Father, he gave his life for us, and paid the price of our sins, which is the death we deserve to die, by dying in our place on the cross. God laid on him all our sins, and judged him in our place. Because Jesus paid this infinite and enormous price for us, he can give us eternal life because he won it for us. Eternal life had to be merited and paid for, but the one who paid for it was Jesus. He bought this wonderful present for us, and gives us it freely in love and grace.

Thirdly we can never perish. (v.28). This means that by the gift of Jesus there is no way now that we can suffer eternal death or any pains of the punishment for sin. Jesus has paid all that needs to be paid. Because of this, no one, no even Satan, can take eternal life from us. It is truly eternal. It is eternal because the gift is given by Jesus our Saviour, and he paid the full price for it. For this reason it is impossible for the true believer to fall from grace, or cease to belong to Jesus, or cease to be saved from sin and be a child of God. This is impossible because every sin and failure we may commit has already been atoned for by Jesus on the cross, and so already forgiven, canceled and blotted out of the sight of God.

Fourthly no true believer can be snatched from this privilege. Satan can not snatch us back into his dominion. He has no more any legal authority over us. We are entirely safe in the arms of Jesus. Jesus has brought us into the family of God, and we are children of God. God is our Father. God has given us to his Son. God is greater than all (v.29), and none can overpower his will and purpose.

“I and my Father are one”, says Jesus. Being in the hands of Jesus and under his love and care, we are in the hands of God, and his love and care. He will keep us as his sheep in this life, providing for us, caring for us, and keeping us safe in his love; then he will bring us safely to his heavenly glory. The moment Jesus calls us out of this life, will be the moment we live with him in his heavenly glory. All this is ours by pure, but irresistible love and grace.