June 3, 2026

Daily Lectionary: Ecclesiastes 11:1-10; John 10:22-42

“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. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.’” (John 10:27-30)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“I and the Father are one.” What does Jesus mean by those words? As we are reflecting on the Triune Nature of our God, is this one of those places where Jesus is pointing us to the reality that He and the Father are homoousias, one in substance? Well, substance is what a thing is. Jesus says that He and the Father are one, so just by the words alone, we have to understand that Jesus is talking about their unity of substance.

But as He is talking about that unity, what is He talking about? He’s talking about security. He is telling His people that they are His sheep and He is their Shepherd. He is telling them that as He is their Shepherd, they are protected and secure. They are secure because no one can snatch them out of His Hand. In fact, the Father has given these sheep to Jesus, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s Hand.

At this point, if we think too hard about the unity of substance, about the oneness of the Trinity, we can get really confused. How can the Father have a hand and the Son have a different hand if they’re one? Back to that question of how can one be three? Idunno.

But in this case, that’s not the main point. The main point is to tell you, His beloved sheep, that you have no need to fear. You are safe in the hands of your God. You are safe in the hands of the Son. You are safe in the hands of the Father. Which hands, the Father's or the Son's? It doesn’t matter, you’re safe. Your One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit cares for you, guards you, and protects you.

You can see this in the Son, who is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life on the cross to defend you from the wolves of sin, death, and the devil. You can see it in the Father who sent His Son into this world that you would be saved. You can see it in the work of the Spirit who has called you by the Gospel, enlightened you with His gifts, sanctified, and kept you in the true faith. This God has pursued you with His rod and staff, and He has picked you up in His ever-loving hands. The whole world around you might appear to fall away, but this unified God is working monolithically to save, guard, and keep you.

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Have no fear, little flock, for the Father has chosen to give you the Kingdom, have no fear little flock! (LSB 735:1)

Rev. Matthew Zickler, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Western Springs, IL.