The Good Shepherd Who Keeps You Secure — John 10:22–42

Blog: Jesus, Our Secure Shepherd (John 10:22–42)By Pastor Jeff Lane

Have you ever felt like the ground was pulled out from under your feet? Maybe it was something small like a fire alarm disrupting a peaceful morning, or something much bigger—an unexpected diagnosis, a natural disaster, a personal crisis. Life has a way of shaking our sense of security. But in John 10:22–42, Jesus offers a security that circumstances cannot shake. He reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd who gives His sheep true and lasting security.

I. Jesus Is Your Good Shepherd

To understand the richness of John 10, we need to reflect on what we’ve already seen in the chapter. Jesus says He is the Good Shepherd—and this means more than simply carrying sweet, cuddly lambs. In the first century, shepherds were fierce protectors. They fought off wild animals, guided sheep through rocky terrain, and even laid across the gate of the sheep pen to guard the entrance with their own bodies.

Jesus says His sheep know His voice and follow Him. In verse 3, we read:

“He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

This is deeply personal. Jesus doesn’t just lead a crowd—He calls individuals. If you know Jesus today, it’s because He called you by name. Salvation starts with His initiative, not ours.

Then in verse 9, He says:

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

He is the only door into the safety of God’s presence. He protects, leads, and provides for His sheep. And ultimately, in verse 11:

“The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Jesus isn’t a hired hand who runs when danger comes. He lays down His life for us—willingly, knowingly, and sacrificially. Our salvation was not accidental or forced. It was part of God’s eternal plan, and Jesus fulfilled it on the cross.

II. Jesus Makes You Secure

As the narrative continues in John 10:22–42, we shift into a conversation during the Feast of Dedication (modern-day Hanukkah). The Jewish leaders press Jesus: “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” But Jesus had already shown them—through signs, teaching, and the fulfillment of prophecy.

The problem wasn’t intellectual—it was spiritual. Jesus says in verse 26:

“You do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”

Unspiritual people cannot grasp spiritual truth. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:14, spiritual things are “spiritually discerned.” But Jesus contrasts the blind unbelief of the leaders with the unshakeable security of His sheep:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (vv. 27–28)

This is what we call the doctrine of eternal security. If you have genuinely been saved by Jesus, you cannot lose your salvation. Your security is not based on how tightly you hold on to Jesus—but how tightly He holds on to you.

“My Father… is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (v. 29)

From beginning to end, salvation is a work of God. It’s sealed by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13–14), guarded by God’s power (1 Pet. 1:4–5), and confirmed by the fruit of a changed life. Christian, if you’ve been called by the Good Shepherd, you are secure. Forever.

III. Jesus Can Be Your Shepherd Because He Is God

At the climax of this passage, Jesus declares:

“I and the Father are one.” (v. 30)

This was not a vague spiritual metaphor. It was a bold claim to deity. The Jewish leaders knew exactly what Jesus was saying, which is why they picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy.

But Jesus doesn’t back down. He even appeals to Scripture, using Psalm 82 to make the point: if human leaders could be called “gods” for their role in representing God’s justice, how much more should He, the Son of God, be acknowledged?

Then Jesus points again to His works. He’s not just making claims—He’s proving them through His miraculous signs and authoritative teaching. And while the religious leaders continued to reject Him, something amazing happens in verse 42:

“And many believed in Him there.”

Far from the religious center of Jerusalem, across the Jordan where John the Baptist once ministered, people began to believe. Not the elite, not the powerful—but the humble, the needy. They heard the voice of the Good Shepherd—and they followed Him.

Final Thoughts

You may feel shaken by life’s storms. You may even question your own spiritual security. But if you know Jesus, you are in His hand—and no one can snatch you away. Not hardship, not failure, not your own doubts. You are eternally safe because of who He is: the Son of God, the Good Shepherd, the One who lays down His life and takes it up again.

If you’re wondering today, “How do I know if I’m one of His sheep?”—look to Jesus. Is your faith in Him today? Do you see evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in your heart? Can you see spiritual growth over time?

The same God who called you is the one who keeps you.

So rest, Christian. You are secure—not because of you, but because of your Good Shepherd.