[The following devotional is a part of our 2015 Easter Season Devotional Book “Passion Road.” We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between February 18 – April 5, 2014.]
Give Abundant Life by Jonathan Holmes
Read: John 10:10-15
The thief and the hired hand both act for their own good and not for the good of the flock. The thief worries only about feeding himself, not building up the flock. He comes to steal sheep away from the flock in order to kill them. The hired hand works for the wages, but is not committed to the flock’s care. If a wolf attacks, the hired hand selfishly flees only to leave the flock scattering.
In this picture we are the flock and we definitely don’t feel love from the thief or the hired hand. This is a bleak picture that Jesus paints, until He is introduced in the picture. There is hope for the flock only through the sacrificial presence of the “Good Shepherd.” But why!? Why is the Good Shepherd willing to sacrifice His own life for the flock? “I know my own and my own know me.” The Good Shepherd has an intimacy with His flock, “I know my own,” and the flock has an intimate relationship with me, “and my own know me.” Jesus willingly gave His life as a substitute so that His followers might experience abundant life for all eternity.
Why did Jesus come? Jesus came to give life.
- Not meaningless life, but a meaningful life.
- Not limited life, but eternal life.
- Not a life of rules, but a life of grace.
- Not death in life, but resurrection in life.
- Not a mediocre life, but abundant life.
Jesus came to give life and we continue to share the life giving message of the gospel, so that others might experience the freedom and protection found in abundant life.
- A life free from hopelessness
- A life free from addiction
- A life free from the search for significance
- A life free from meaningless pursuits
- A life free from eternal death
How do we have this life? Through the Good Shepherd, Jesus, laying down His life for us. That we might have abundant life forever with Him. “I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.”
Questions:
- Why did Jesus come according to John 10:10?
- Does it give you hope that Jesus provides a way to “crush the head” of sin and its effects in your life?
Prayers for Lent
- Thank the Father for the abundant life that is found only in His Son.
- Thank God for life lived in the protective presence and intimate knowledge of the Good Shepherd.