John 10:17

“In light of the fact that I lay down my life,” Jesus says, “I am treasured by my Father. Furthermore, when I lay down my life, I will also take it back.” John 10:17 EFP 

Jesus takes a sudden turn in his narrative. He opens up a different panorama of his role as the Good Shepherd of the sheep. He describes himself as the Savior of the Sheep. His death is actually assured because only he can save the sheep from death. Jesus is all that stands between his creatures and oblivion.

His sacrifice does not go unnoticed by the Father. Considering this is a decision made in the councils of heaven before the ages, it is no wonder the Father of all loves the Shepherd. This not an easy concept to digest, even for us who live in the wake of millennia of indoctrination on basic theological concepts, such as the triune Godhead—the Trinity.

The Father, as well as the son (and by extension, the Holy Spirit) are integrally involved in the salvation of man (Read 2 Corinthians 5:19). God cannot die. Thus, even though Jesus came in the flesh, he was also divine. He had to be, in order to take on the wages of sin. Only the Savior Shepherd could take on the weight of all our sins and die in the flesh. He literally wrestled sin to death in his human flesh but secured it ultimate defeat through his divinity—his resurrection. He raised himself! Divinity cannot die!

It is the mystery of the ages. It is a miracle of universal dimensions. It is beyond comprehension, but it is as simple as this: Jesus, God in the flesh of humanity, suffered the death I deserved, so that I might live the life He secured in the power of God. I can live, safe and secure in his accomplished work of redemption—today and forever.