March 6
Bible Reading: John 10:8-18
John 10:10b, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
As a hospice chaplain, I’ve witnessed it many times; the life of a hospice patient slowly ebbing away. And there’s a transition that takes place in the hearts of those that are dying. The things that they once held dear either no longer matter or have become impossibilities. In most cases, their focus shifts to their loved ones, and rightly so, but eventually they are compelled to say goodbye to them and this world.
In that context, how are we to understand Jesus’ words? He came that we might have life and have it abundantly, but still the harsh reality of our troubles and pending death casts its shadow over us. To understand what Jesus was saying about the abundant life, we need to reassess what that means.
“Seeing the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). What Jesus saw then is an apt description of people in our day. “Distressed and downcast” people need to be led back to their Shepherd. He alone can lead and provide for them by imparting to them the life He has in Himself (John 1:4; 5:21, 26). He even gave His life for that purpose (John 10:11).
King David, having been a shepherd himself, knew something about God’s abundant provision. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” he wrote (Psalm 23:1). Regarding my life, he said, it is the Lord who works to fulfill all my needs and desires. To the extent, he said, that “My cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5). God alone can overflow “our cups.”
The life Jesus spoke of is an “I shall not want…my cup overflows” kind of life. What is it most people long for in life? They want to be loved. Because of Jesus, we have “the love of God flooding through our hearts” (Romans 5:5, Philips Translation). They want to be happy. In Jesus, “we rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8). They yearn for peace. He avails a peace “which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). One does not experience the fulness of these blessings through the pursuit of them, but through the pursuit of Christ, and the realization of His indwelling presence. It is in knowing Him that one experiences the abundant life He speaks of (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:4). If you are a believer, the abundant, “I shall not want…my cup overflows” life is already yours in Him. The Good Shepherd has worked to bless you that way!
One does not experience the abundant life through the pursuit of happiness, but through the pursuit of Christ and realization of His indwelling presence.
JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME
Jesus is all the world to me,
My life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day,
Without him I would fall:
When I am sad, to him I go,
No other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, he makes me glad,
He’s my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
My friend in trials sore;
I go to him for blessings, and
He gives them o’er and o’er:
He sends the sunshine and the rain,
He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,
He’s my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
And true to him I’ll be;
Oh, how could I this friend deny,
When he’s so true to me?
Following him I know I’m right,
He watches o’er me day and night;
Following him by day and night,
He’s my friend.
Jesus is all the world to me,
I want no better friend;
I trust him now, I’ll trust him when
Life’s fleeting days shall end:
Beautiful life with such a friend,
Beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy,
LookingtoJesus 