Abundant Life Available

Not a laughing matter...

Edwin Cooper was famous across America, yet almost no one knew his real name. Coming from a family of circus clowns, Cooper began performing before audiences when he was just nine years old. After a stint with the Barnum and Bailey Circus, he became a fixture on television in the 1950s as Bozo the Clown.

In addition to entertaining both young and old, Cooper had a message for his “buddies and partners” every week: get checked for cancer. Yet Cooper was so busy working that he neglected to follow his own advice. By the time his cancer was discovered, it was too late for it to be treated. Edwin Cooper died at just forty-one years of age from a disease he had warned many others to watch out for.

Sin is far more deadly than the most aggressive and fast growing cancer. Sin kills and destroys everything it touches. From the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden until now, sin takes no prisoners. This is the purpose behind everything Satan does.

Because of his evil nature and his hatred of everything good, the devil brings destruction to everything within his reach.

Today, we look at the the Parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10. For the sake of time, I want to focus on one verse in our passage, that which is found in John 10:10

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is the only One fighting for your best interest.

There are several characters in our verses. And notice what each of their natures are and what they offer. First, there is the thief. Thieves are malicious. They beat the man and left him to die in the story of the Good Samaritan. They inflict pain and disappointment. Some of you have had your homes or cars broken into. You feel especially vulnerable after this has taken place.

Who is the thief that Jesus mentions? Ultimately, it is Satan, the enemy of your soul. Jesus said that He was a liar from the beginning and the Father of all lies. He is the accuser of the brethren and prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

Then there is the hireling; someone under contract to do a job, but has no ownership. The hireling is not malicious, but he lacks care, especially under difficult circumstances. He does his duty, but he is far from being personally invested.

Then there is the wolf, who, like the thief, seeks only to disrupt and have lunch.

But the shepherd, he is sacrificial. He not only gives, but does so while risking his life. Shepherds are known to be loving and invested in those that they care for. He is willing to fight off the thief and the wolf, though it may cost him greatly.

There are examples of inept shepherds. God indicted those who did not have Judah’s best interest in mind in Zechariah 11:17 states:

Zechariah 11:17 ESV

17 “Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!”

Ezekiel 34 is another elaboration on how those in Israel in spiritual leadership mistreated God’s people and led them astray. Notice the imagery in Ezekiel 34:1-6

Ezekiel 34:1–6 ESV

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; 6 they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

God opposes those who take advantage of His people, the church. That is why pastors and teachers will incur a stricter judgment- because we are in a position of influence. But pastors are not the reason you come to church or avoid church. You come because of the good shepherd.

Jesus calls Himself “the good shepherd” several times. And His goodness is elaborated on in John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

And in John 10:14-15:

John 10:14–15 ESV

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

The Lord Jesus is the only qualified shepherd because He is sacrificial in His duty and devotion. And this is a divine quality.

Has it ever dawned on your that Jesus loves you more than you love yourself?

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to administer abundant life to you.

There are many Scriptures that speak of God as our shepherd. Probably the most well known is Psalm 23:1

Psalm 23:1 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Or Isaiah 40:11

Isaiah 40:11 ESV

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Jesus, being the good shepherd says in John 10:10:

John 10:10 (ESV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

What is this abundant life? This life is described by the the term περισσός, which is being extraordinary in amount, abundant, profuse; going beyond what is necessary. The two terms together, περισσὸν ἔχειν, means to have (someth.) in abundance. (William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 805. )

John 1:4 tells us that spiritual life is found in Jesus, who created the heavens and the earth.

John 1:4 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

And the entire gospel of John was written in order that its hearers may believe and have spiritual life that comes from that belief. John 20:31

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

This abundant life could be compared with the concept of the new creation, that Paul mentions in in 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

This is a product of coming to know Christ, whereas you have been raised from death to life. Your perspective is different. You are made new. The old life has passed away and a new way of life has come because a resurrection has taken place in you. Romans 6:4

Romans 6:4 ESV

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

It is not tied to health, wealth, or prosperity. Rather, it is forgiveness of sin; power for living and hope for eternity.

Many people are looking for abundant life through some other shepherd. They are hoping to find it through temporary means or vehicles, whether it be drugs, alcohol, sexual promiscuity, being enlightened, having a mountain top experience, accumulating wealth, etc. But none of these were ever designed to give abundant and transformative life.

The mission of Jesus, in part, was to bring us life, abundant and full. This supersedes all circumstances. Far too many struggle with addiction because there is a failure to see the new life that Christ can bring.

They way in which Jesus gives abundant life is by offering up His own. We go looking for “life,” in other things, which is idolatry. Sometimes we are distracted; sometimes we are deceived.

C.S. Lewis once said

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses

Have you sought this life that Christ alone can bring? Or are you still making mud pies with other things?

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, produces a change of perspective in you.

In contrast, when you are brought face to face with Christ and the life that He can give, all other things fade into the background. And there is an order that comes from realizing the spiritual life that Jesus alone brings.

John Calvin, the 16th century reformer, said that a sign of this life, is when we do not trust in ourselves, but yearn for the Lord. He states:

“…although our iniquity deserves something quite different, this merciful Father, in his incredible goodness, then voluntarily reveals himself to us who are thus afflicted and terror-stricken. And by such means, which he knows to be helpful to us in our weakness, he calls us back from error to the right road, from death to life, from ruin to salvation, from the realm of the devil to his own realm.” (John Calvin, Truth for All Time, 15.).

Has God given you this perspective?

The story is told of a young girl who accepted Christ as her Saviour and applied for membership in a local church. “Were you a sinner before you received the Lord Jesus into your life?” inquired an old deacon. “Yes, sir,” she replied.

“Well, are you still a sinner?”

“To tell you the truth, I feel I’m a greater sinner than ever.”

“Then what real change have you experienced?”

“I don’t quite know how to explain it,” she said, “except I used to be a sinner running after sin, but now that I am saved. I’m a sinner running from sin!” she was received into the fellowship of the church, and she proved by her consistent life that she was truly converted.

And this is no laughing matter. Life is not about entertainment. It is much more serious. And there is abundant life available to those willing to seek Christ for it. Amen.