Focus Scripture: John 10:10 (NRSV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
This passage has made me examine the concepts of pasture and abundant life through new lenses. A pasture is a place with living plants used to nourish a flock. The imagery of nourishment is frequently associated with Jesus. In these accounts, Jesus gives something tangible to people who are hungry, satisfying their need to be fed. This feeding takes place not only in a physical sense but also in a spiritual sense, as Jesus reveals himself as the bread of life, the only sustenance that is needed.
Abundance is another term I needed to explore. Abundance means something is very plentiful, more than sufficient, or in rich supply. Abundance is not necessarily a quantitative concept like economic wealth or material possessions. Instead, it can also be qualitative, referring to richness in physical well-being or the sufficiency of inner peace. In Jesus’ day, Christians did not enjoy abundance. Instead, they regularly experienced physical persecution and religious uncertainty. They were the masses seeking victory over poverty, freedom from disease, acceptance by a hostile government, and simple justice in everyday matters. Jesus came preaching a message of hope and promising to lead them to abundant and eternal life. In many cases, the masses heard his voice and followed him.
This concept of “abundance” applies equally today. It is assurance that comes when Jesus attends to the fragility and vulnerability of life. Abundance is the comfort of the body and the nourishment of the spirit in the face of tremendous odds. In a modern-day context, sheep sometimes wander into valleys of oppression and misfortune. Sometimes they experience sad memories and lonely nights. Sometimes the sheep are victimized by crime, violence, apathy, and cynicism that plague our modern world. And often, the sheep are distracted by unfulfilled dreams and broken promises. Because the thief comes to steal their joy, kill their peace, and destroy their hope, they sometimes become confused and stressed out, unable to find their way back to the pasture.
But Jesus still shows us the way today. His Word is true, sure, and everlasting. If we, the modern-day sheep, listen to his voice and follow him, he will lead us to pasture, feed us with the Bread of Life, guide us, and preserve us by his Spirit, assuring a life of abundance in a world of great scarcity. Believers have been conditioned to hear Jesus’ voice speaking through the Word. They trust that voice and follow it.
Prayer
Merciful and loving God, I ask that you open my spiritual ears to hear the voice of the Shepherd and to follow him. I thank you for the promise of abundant life through Jesus, who lives in me through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Amen.
From Reflective Renewal: Grace at the Crossroads
