From the very beginning of this blog, I have stressed the importance of Christian’s knowing their Old Testament well. The Old Testament, after all, forms 78% of the Bible by word count. Indeed, many Bible scholars have estimated that somewhere around 10% of the New Testament is quotations or allusions to the Old Testament.1 Because of this, many of the confusing or mysterious points in the New Testament can actually be understood (or when clear, understood more fully) in the context of the Old Testament. One example that many Christians would probably never expect is Jesus’ statement that no one can snatch from his Father’s hand in John 10:29.
For context, John 10:29 says:2
My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to seize anything from the Father’s hand.
This verse is pretty clear; I don’t think I’ve seen or heard of much controversy as to its basic meaning. However, very few people notice its intertextual connection to the Old Testament through Isaiah 43:13. Yahweh speaking, says:
Even from today, I am he, and there is no one who snatches from my hand.
I work something, and who turns it back?
In Isaiah 43, Yahweh is presenting his supremacy and exclusive position as God and savior to Israel. He mentions that though people in general find witnesses to justify themselves (v. 9), Israel witnesses to themselves of the Yahweh’s exclusive status (vv. 10–12). Isaiah 43:13 declares Yahweh’s power to save. But in the context of the end of the chapter (vv. 22–28), it also declares Yahweh’s power to judge.
What this suggests is that Jesus has drawn an intentional intertextual connections in John 10:29 with multiple implications. First, by presenting himself as savior and good shepherd with his Father guaranteeing security, he presents himself not as a savior other than Yahweh (which would contradict Isaiah 43:11) but as one with Yahweh. But second, the context of Isaiah 43 suggests that the safety of Jesus’ sheep in his Father’s hand is just as sure as the lack of safety of those who are not Jesus’ sheep and thus not in the Father’s hand of salvation, but rather under his hand of judgment, a hand whose works will not be turned back. Not only is John 10:29 a comforting guarantee for believers, it is a call to unbelievers to turn to Christ.
Additionally, this is a reminder that Jesus came not primarily to reveal revolutionary new teaching from God, but rather to proclaim the coming of the long predicted kingdom of God through the suffering Messiah. Jesus’ knowledge of the Old Testament was perfect. His love for his Father was manifest in his knowledge of and adherence to his Father’s Word—the Old Testament! As Christ followers, we should strive to exhibit the same. As Christ followers, we should be diligent to read and understand God’s words in the Old Testament.
1 The problem is defining what counts as a quotation or allusion, so these estimates vary wildly. But anything like 10% would be a very large portion of the New Testament.
2 Throughout this post, translations my own, emphasis added to taste.
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