My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." (Jn 10:27-30)
The qualities or the qualifications or the specifications of the sheep and the shepherd are given in this short passage.
Jesus’ sheep:
- Hear his voice
- They follow him
- They shall never perish
- They cannot be taken away from him/Father
Shepherd (Jesus):
- He knows them
- He gives them eternal life
FATHER:
- He has given the sheep to the son
- He is greater than all
- No one can take it away from HIM
FATHER AND I ARE ONE
So, those who hear Jesus’ voice are safe for ever. He will look after them. Even death, the last enemy, cannot harm them. The sheep belong to him and they follow him so no one can take them away from him.
Same way the shepherd also knows them. Knowledge is not an intellectual knowledge but and experiential, physical knowledge.
Underlying in all these qualities we find that there relationship at the bottom of it. All these qualities are factors/elements of relationship. When there is relationship then there is safety and security and eternal life. And when this relationship is total then there is identity (Father and I are one).
