The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28
What is an abundant life? Is it wealth? Travel? Family? Gourmet foods? Work you enjoy? Or is it something else? Jesus came so we could have life and life more abundantly. While the above mentioned elements are wonderful, maybe a more abundant life has nothing to do with the physical world we live in. Maybe, it's about knowing Jesus's voice and being part of His flock?
Let's look at a quick summary of the first nine chapters of John. John begins with proclaiming Jesus is the Word and was with God at the forming of the World and is God. The ESV Commentary excellently summarizes the OT prophesies John mentions about Jesus in the first nine chapters below:
"John presents Jesus as the fulfillment of these prophecies. John the Baptist announces Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36). In chapter 2, Jesus, the Lamb of God, drives animals of sacrifice out of the temple; he will replace them. In chapter 3, Jesus speaks with Nicodemus about the new birth (cf. Ezek. 36:25–27). In John 4, Jesus offers living water, is recognized as Messiah and Savior of the world, and heals the sick. In chapter 5, the lame walk. In chapter 6, the multitude is fed, the water crossed, the mountain ascended. Then Jesus reveals that he is the fulfillment of the manna from heaven. In chapter 7, Jesus asserts that he is the fulfillment of the rock from which the water flowed, but he gives something better than water: the Holy Spirit. In chapter 8, Jesus is the pillar of fire, the Light of the World. In chapter 9, the blind see."
Join me in reading John 10 and be encouraged as we hear God's voice!
