“Abundant life is about having peace, having joy, having God.”
John Piper
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:9-10
In John 10 we see Jesus our Lord having a lengthy discourse with the Religious Leaders of His day, specifically the Pharisees. In this discourse Jesus uses two powerful allegories to clarify the nature of His work. In the first allegory Jesus calls Himself The Good Shepherd, who calls out His Sheep and they in turn listen to His voice and follow Him. Jesus here beautifully has contrasted Himself against the Jewish religious elite whom He calls robbers & thieves. In The second allegory Jesus changes the metaphor from Shepherd to Door. What does He want us to understand from this allegory? In Jesus’s day Shepherds on some occasions will sleep in the opening of the sheepfold to guard the sheep. No one could enter or leave but through Him. In the same way Jesus here is teaching exclusivity, Jesus is not a way to life but He is the way to life.
A door/sheep-gate leads to pastures for the sheep, where they are provided for, taken care of and enjoy the shelter of their Shepherd. In the same way those who are seen in union with Jesus will be saved, and will find pasture. I am immediately reminded of David’s psalm when I hear the word pasture. The Psalmist sings, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2). Pastures refer to peace & calm, praise be to God for our great Shepherd, the good Shepherd has purchased for us peace with God, A peace paid for by the infinitely precious blood of the Lamb (Romans 5:1, 1 Peter 1:18-19). But not only does the Shepherd give us Eternal Peace, he transforms our lives eternally. An abundant life is enjoyed by all those who find comfort in Him. This abundance isn’t stuff, isn’t goods, isn’t material rather as John Piper says, “Abundant life is about having peace, having joy, having God.” We need to remind ourselves today that Life in Jesus isn’t dull and drowsy, rather it is filled with Joy, peace and favour enjoyed in loving obedience to Him and in continual fellowship with His people. Today, dear friend do not fall prey to the enemies trap of having abundance anywhere else but through Jesus Christ. May we truly enjoy Him and the Joy He gives as we faithfully obey Him by the power of His Spirit.
He Aletheia 