Sharper Iron — The Word Made Flesh: No One Can Snatch Jesus’ Sheep Away

Rev. Dustin Beck, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Warda, TX, and Rev. Michael Newman, president of the Texas District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, join host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 10:22-30.

Though Jesus continues to face opposition in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication, He continues to call out to the Jews so that they might repent and believe in Him. In response to their request for a plain and bold answer, Jesus points to the works He is doing in His Father’s name. These works testify to the truth of who Jesus is. Though the Jews there do not believe because they are not Jesus’ sheep, Jesus provides the comfort to those who do listen to His voice—they are His sheep. He knows them, and He gives them eternal life that cannot be taken away. That eternal life cannot be taken away because it is secured by Jesus and His Father, with whom Jesus is one in the unity of the Holy Trinity. Jesus’ teaching in this text provides great comfort to us as Christians.

“The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

John 10:22-30

I and the Father Are One

²²At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. ²⁴So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” ²⁵Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, ²⁶but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. ²⁷My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹My Father, who has given them to me,^[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰I and the Father are one.”

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Footnotes

John 10:29 Some manuscripts What my Father has given to me

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).