David Bahn – Reflections

John 10:10

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

A quick search of the web revealed a number of different ingredients of abundant life. From joy to gratitude, and prayer to revival, even eggs were listed as an ingredient of abundant life; although that was under the listing for Life’s Abundance Cat Food! What if we were to consider Jesus’ own teaching regarding abundant life. He came to give abundant life to his followers so let’s take a look at the surrounding verses.

Sadly, there are those who would steal, kill, and destroy us all. From the man who kidnapped and held captive the three women in Cleveland, to the teacher having inappropriate relationships with students, to the thug who makes his living by armed robbery: all these take away life. But Jesus says that those who seek to approach us apart from him, as well as those who would point us to God apart from Jesus are on that list. Abundant life centers in Jesus; without him we have a vaporous illusion and no life.

Therefore abundant life is a life connected with God. Life apart from God is an oxymoron; life does not exist apart from God. So if we wish to be fully and truly alive we must be connected to God. Jesus does that. He is the pathway, the gate, the door to God. But there is another wrinkle: we won’t find him, or God, or life on our own. We need a guide, or in Jesus’ words, a shepherd. Jesus is the one who guides us to God, leading us to life. His mission is to give life, not to take it away. He protects us from those who would harm us. He will do all that is necessary to do so: he will lay down his life for the sheep.

An Israeli tour guide was explaining how shepherds in the Holy Land do not drive their sheep from place to place, but rather that they lead them. They have a unique call that they use and the sheep literally know their voice and follow them. Some sheep don’t always get it, and some wonder, but the mode is: the shepherd calls/sings/whistles or in some manner calls the sheep, and the sheep follow. Just as he was explaining this the tour happened upon a flock of sheep that was being herded from behind: driven rather than led. Someone in the group challenged the guide: “How about that flock of sheep? They’re being driven, not led.” The guide simply responded: “That’s not the shepherd, that’s the butcher.” They were on the way to the slaughter house.

Being abundantly alive is more than being healthy and successful, certainly more than just being active. If we are going to have abundant life we will listen for Jesus’ voice and go where he leads us. To that end the question today is: are you driven or following? Driven people may look alive. Driven people may accomplish much. Driven people may be admired. But Jesus says those who are his follow him where he leads. The contrast is stark. Rather than being driven to the slaughter house Jesus would lead us to places and practices of life. Listen for his voice and follow him.

John 10:1-21

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² 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. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 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. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, andthey will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

¹⁹ There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” ²¹ Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”