This Sunday our lectionary passage is taken from John’s 10:22-30, a passage that is rich with comfort and depth.

The scene is set during the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem, which is more commonly known to us as ‘Hannukah’. It was a time when the people would remember God’s faithfulness in rededicating the holy temple, which served as a religious focal point for the ancient Jewish people.

In Jesus time the festival was a relatively recent innovation that marked a period when in the 2^nd Century BCE when the Greek ruler, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, had desecrated the temple, banned the traditional practices of the Jewish faith, and persecuted anyone who disagreed with or opposed him.  However, after a period of conflict, led by the Maccabees, Antiochus was defeated and the temple was re-dedicated in 164 BCE.

Amid the crowds and conversations occurring at the festival, Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders who ask a pointed question on the subject of his identity and mission: “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

On the surface, it seems like a reasonable request for the religious leaders to make. However, Jesus answers them not with a new declaration, but with a reminder: “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me.” (John 10:25) Jesus has already shown who he is through his ministry of healing, feeding, teaching, and reaching out to those on the margins of society. The problem is that those who hold power in Jerusalem have hardened their hearts and are not able to accept the work of God that is occurring in and through him.

Jesus then shifts the focus in this conversation to those around him who do believe in him. Jesus calls them “my sheep”: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) In this image, which draws upon the familiar pastoral image of God in Psalm 23, Jesus reminds us of what it means to belong to him. It’s not about status, ritual, or the sophistication of our theological understanding. It’s about relationship. The sheep know the shepherd’s voice because they have spent time with Him. They follow because they trust in a shepherd who leads the flock.

This passage invites us to consider our own walk with Jesus. Are we listening for His voice? Are we following even when the path ahead of us is unclear? Listening for God’s quiet voice is not always easy in a world filled with competing voices; voices that would lead us into fear, doubt and distraction. Yet Jesus assures us that his voice, the voice of the Good Shepherd, can still be heard, and that those who follow Jesus are known and cared for by him deeply, personally, and eternally.

Jesus then offers his followers words of comfort: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28). In saying this Jesus reminds his followers that they are not only known by him, but they are also held by him eternally. This gentle yet firm holding is one that no force in creation, no suffering, no failure, no fear, can ever loosen. And those who are held by Christ are also held by the Father for Jesus adds: “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30).

In his assurances Jesus offers not just words of comfort but a foundation for our lives to be built upon. The newness of life that is offered to us, through the Holy Spirit, is given to us in the present as we respond to the Shepherd’s voice. It is life rooted in his constant presence, in his constant love, in his constant promises, that are fulfilled in the cross and the resurrection and are available to us in the here and now.

As we reflect on this passage in the quiet of our home worship, perhaps we are reminded of times we have felt lost. Jesus reminds us that we are seen, known, and that we belong to him. Jesus does not promise a life free of hardship, pain, or difficulty. Instead, Jesus promises that we will never walk alone as he serves as our guide and constant companion.

So let us take a moment today to truly listen to God with our hearts and our minds. What is the Shepherd saying to you/us today? Where is he leading you/us? What reassurance does he want to give you/us?

In the stillness, may we remember that the one who calls us by name is faithful. Jesus Christ is our Shepherd and we are His sheep, who find our safety, security, and our liberating freedom within his hands.