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The mystery of our salvation
JOHN 10:29-30
29 My father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one will snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the father are one.
The Almighty Christ, before whom all hell trembles, bowed down before His Father in humility and thanksgiving and confessed that he did not create, beget or give birth to His followers, but received them as a present and vassalage from His Father in heaven. Jesus is the passive recipient of what the active Creator presents to Him. In the high-priestly prayer of Christ (Jn. 17) we read ten times that Jesus did not create or even take possession of His followers by Himself, but rather, He received them from His Father.
Thus, a basic mystery of God is revealed, that is, He is the Father of Jesus Christ and became visible in His Son. Jesus said: "Whoever sees Me sees the Father" (Jn. 14:9). The image of the good Shepherd finds its fulfillment in the fatherly love of God. Jesus is opening the door of our thinking so wide that we can see who God is: our Father! He recommends praying like that to us (Matthew 6:9-10): 9 … Our Father in heaven, Your fatherly name be sanctified, 10 Your fatherly Kingdom come, Your fatherly will be done, as in heaven, so on Earth.
Jesus wants to draw all of His followers into the state of being sons of God, and to let them partake in His privilege as such, by revealing God's true name to them. They were to know who God is so as to take hold of their privilege by faith.
Christ bent down even lower in His humility and self-denial, saying: "The father is greater than all." No man and no angel can claim to be the Creator. No human leader lives forever or is all-powerful. God alone is great. Jesus was the only and true "Muslim", who submitted totally to God, His father, and gave the honor to Him alone forever.
It is frequently discussed who is greater, the Father or the Son. This question is worldly, materialistic and satanic. Jesus´ attitude is different. He didn't make Himself great, but always glorified His Father, and even took it upon Himself to appear small. Self-denial is a basic element in the Holy Trinity. Only humility, gentleness and love, and never pride, self-love and hate, will be found in it. Christ does not think like Satan, who wants to be like God. Christ is the Son, who always obeyed the father, a Representative of His father, who prayed: "Not My, but Your will be done." He believed adamantly that the intentional grace of His father would succeed. Jesus was certain of final victory in the name of His Father.
As a vulnerable human being, He knew He was secure in the hand of His Father. He had experienced this in the storm on the sea, in the healing of the seriously sick and in casting out demons, in discussions with His enemies and in bitter persecutions. He passed right through the midst of His enemies when they wanted to kill Him. He had learned that His father's saving hand is strong and omnipotent. Therefore He insures His followers: "No one can tear you out of the hand of the Father". What father would allow his child to be snatched away from him and be subjected to the mercy of the scoffer? If even normal people have a sense of responsibility, how much more the Father in heaven will protect His born-again children with all His power!
Basically there are "three" divine hands that guide us through the valley of the shadow of death: the hand of the good Shepherd, the hand of the Almighty Father, and the invisible hand of the Holy Spirit. We are forever safe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The triune God Himself is our protection. Jesus wants to engrave this fact into His follower’s hearts at the end of His pastoral word, where He says with royal dignity: "I and the Father are one."
Jesus didn't say: We are two beings side-by-side. There are not two or three Gods. The Jews and the Muslims have not understood Jesus and His followers. All true Christians believe in only one God, who revealed Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while remaining always one. Whoever does not have eternal life in himself will not comprehend this fact - which seems to be contrary to earthly logic. It corresponds to a higher, spiritual logic, describing the reality of divine existence. We, therefore, do not discuss theological ideas, but testify to the reality of the living God. Jesus confirms in His prayer to His Father: "We are one!" (John 17:22) This word bears witness to the reality of the Holy Trinity in the simplest and clearest form.
With this true, pragmatic testimony, Jesus reveals that everything He says and does originates from His Father. Jesus has not chosen His followers, but the Father has given them to Him. The One who knows the history of the world and its future, will complete the unification of the church with His son and Holy Spirit, in order to glorify His own name.
At the same time, everything that belongs to the Father also belongs to His Son and Heir. Jesus received the universe as His possession from the wealth of His Father. He is in spiritual harmony with Him, and executes his aspiration for love without anyone preventing Him from doing so. His death and resurrection were accomplished in full agreement with His father. His triumphant return will glorify the Father. No one will be able to prevent the victory and the salvation of the Son of God. He will complete His wonderful work. Whoever remains in His hand and in the hand of the Father, will follow the good Shepherd throughout eternity. He will never be lonely and destitute, but live in communion with all those who bear His name in their heart. Jesus leads us home to the Father.