Text: John 10:10
John 10:10 is certainly a “for life” statement isn’t it? There Jesus says he came to give us “everything” we need. Do you believe that? Do you have “life more abundantly” as the King James translates it? Just what does it mean to have everything we need, to have an abundant life? That is an important question to ask. The answer determines how we judge the value of life, whether our own or someone else’s.
What is an Abundant Life?
So what did Jesus mean when he talks about an abundant life of everything we need? Is an abundant life a life full of abundance? To answer that, we must first consider the context in which Jesus is speaking. In John 10 Jesus is talking about sheep and shepherds. This is where Jesus calls himself the “gate” (v. 7) for the sheep and the “good shepherd” who gives his life for the sheep (v. 11). Jesus knows his sheep and is known by them (v. 14). They recognize his voice and follow him (v. 4). So with all this sheep and shepherd talk, if you are going to answer the question, “What is the abundant life?” you have to ask, “What was the abundant life for a sheep?” The answer to that is very simple. The abundant life for a sheep was following the shepherd. The abundant life for the sheep was not being able to say, “I shall not suffer,” because I have a shepherd, it was being able to say, “I shall not want” because I have a shepherd. But to further clarify, we must ask, “What was life like for a sheep following the shepherd?”
The Abundant Life for Palestinian Sheep
A little research into shepherding in Palestine gives us the answer. Following the shepherd often meant some pretty steep climbs into the mountains. Shepherds didn’t graze their sheep on the flat lands that could be used for other agricultural purposes, but on the sun-dried grasses of the mountain meadows. Following the shepherd meant following him on some pretty steep and narrow paths that led to these meadows. Following the shepherd meant the risk of enemies all around. Things were safe down there in the sheep pen, but up in the mountains predators were around watching and waiting for an opportunity to strike. Following the shepherd back down the mountain when the sun was setting meant some pretty dark valleys as the shadows began to creep upon them. It was sometimes hard to see the path and, even worse, it was hard to see the shepherd. When sheep can’t see the shepherd they tend to panic. What was the abundant life for a sheep? It was following the shepherd, but following the shepherd was not always easy.
The Abundant Life for God’s Sheep Today
The abundant life that Jesus promises you and me is not always a life of abundance. The abundant life for God’s sheep today is following the Shepherd. But that’s not always easy. That may mean some rough climbs. Have you ever felt like your life is going uphill? Sometimes doesn’t it seems like it’s the proverbial “one step forward and two steps backwards”? It can be frustrating. But the Shepherd knows where the green pastures are. The green pastures near the streams were not used for grazing. The shepherd knew that the sheep would be too hot after their long climb up the mountain so before he would allow them to drink, he made them lie down and cool off in the green pastures. The Good Shepherd we follow says to us in our frustration, “Cool it! I’m in charge. I’m in control. I know what I am doing. Things will get better.”
The abundant life may mean some narrow and dangerous paths. It’s not easy staying on the narrow path of God’s truth when there are so many other inviting paths out there. These paths of “relative truths” would be so much easier. Why can’t we just decide what is right and wrong? But the Shepherd knows where the quiet waters are. The Palestinian shepherds would not let their sheep drink in the dangerous, fast moving waters of the mountain streams. They would dam up certain spots with rocks to create quiet pools so the sheep could drink safely. The Good Shepherd has given us “quiet pools” of his truth in his Word. When we “drink” from it, our souls are refreshed and we can once again stay on the “narrow” path of his truth.
The abundant life may mean enemies all around us watching, waiting, tempting, and telling us that the solution to human problems is killing humans and making it sound so reasonable, so appealing. But our Good Shepherd feeds us right in the presence of our enemies. Palestinian shepherds would sometimes carry grain in sacks at their side. They would supplement the days feeding by spreading the grain on the ground. As the sheep ate, the shepherds would watch and protect them from any enemies. The Good Shepherd feeds us with his Word and Sacraments, strengthening our faith, watching over us, and protecting us from our enemies.
The abundant life may mean deep dark shadows, the shadows of pain and suffering, and even the shadow of death. Things may get so bad we may wonder if our Shepherd is even there. Shepherds in Palestine used to comfort the sheep in the midst of the shadows by beating out a rhythm on the rocks with their rod and staff. Even though the sheep could not see the Shepherd, they could hear him and they knew he was there. Our Good Shepherd knows the way through those dark valleys of our lives. We know he is there leading us even if it seems that he is not. We can hear him. He comforts us with promise after promise. “I am with you always.” “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
The abundant life of having everything you need is not always a life of abundance, a life where everything goes just the way you think it should go. It is not a life free from teen pregnancies or crisis pregnancies or wrong decisions about abortion. It is not a life free from suffering and cancer and Alzheimer’s and AIDS. The abundant life is following the Shepherd whose Father’s hands wove us together in our mother’s womb, making that place and the product of that place sacred. The abundant life is following the Good Shepherd whose hands stretched out on the cross and paid the price you deserved because of your sin. Now his hands stretch down to you offering forgiveness to repentant hearts, forgiveness for all sins. The abundant life is following the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep, who knows you and your sorrows and sufferings. He has promised his presence and strength to get you through these shadowy times in your lives, and if not get you through them, to enable you to endure them with patient hope. The abundant life is following the Good Shepherd who leads you through all the battles of this life and helps you battle for life. The abundant life is following the Shepherd. He’s been here before. He knows where he is going, and he can get you to where you are supposed to be, dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. Then you can be assured that the abundant life will indeed be a life of abundance, eternal abundance! Until then—we follow the Shepherd.