This week we begin worship with:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The context of this verse is the sheepfold and the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18). Into that quiet and tranquil scene comes a thief, whose goals are the theft of as many sheep as possible, the death of the shepherd, and the destruction of the fold in which they are protected.
Our verse also gives the goal of the Good Shepherd. That of providing a place in which the lives of the sheep would not only be protected, but abundant (perissos)! This is not average. It is extraordinary, above the mark, and record setting.
But our verse does not give how this will be done. Are we to win the lottery, have a successful career, a loving family, or worship at a vibrant church? Yes, those would be nice, but our ticket might not be a winner, our career might not end on a positive note, not every one in our family might love each other, and our church might be full of strife. None of these are the abundance of this verse.
If we went out to find pasture under any hired hand, our life would be filled with the fear of abandonment.
He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
Fear is the natural state of a sheep. This is why they herd. This is why they instinctively follow other sheep . . . for protection.
We have an abundant life for one reason:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Our Good Shepherd has laid down His life for us, His sheep. He has defeated the thief. We need never fear. That is abundance.
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