“At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, ‘How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s Name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among My 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. 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 10:22-30 ESV)

When you were little, did you ever have other children try to snatch candy or maybe your lunch money out of your hands? It’s really hard to hold onto something when a stronger person is prying at your fingers, trying to get it out of your hand. Tiny children often lose what they’re holding. They are not strong enough or tall enough to protect it.

But there was one kid in my seventh-grade class that nobody could try that on. He was only 13, but he was already over six feet tall. He could just hold the candy or the money over everyone’s heads! Nobody could take things away from him.

Jesus carries us safe in His hands, just like that. He is greater than everyone; nobody can reach over Him or around Him to take us away. He is smarter than all our enemies, even the devil. No one can trick us out of His hands.

And He is stronger, too. Jesus is the Son of God, who loved us so much that He became a human being to live, to suffer, and to die on a cross in order to break the power of death over us. None of us could do that, but Jesus could—and He did. Death could not hold Him. On the third day He rose from the dead, and He will never die again. He gives that same life to you and me, to everyone who trusts in Him. He holds us safely in those strong, nail-scarred hands—and nothing can snatch us away from Him, not sin or death or the devil. We are safe in Jesus’ hands forever.

We Pray: Lord, I know that You hold me safely. Help me to trust You and relax in Your care. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on May 5, 2022
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved

Reflection Questions:
1. Did anyone ever try to take something away from you? Tell the story.
2. What makes you feel safe—is it a person, place, a situation?
3. When you are afraid, how do you remember that Jesus is holding you?