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10 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.

 

In verse 10 Jesus assumed the role of provider and guardian of eternal life.

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

The “thief” here is the shepherd who steals someone else’s sheep. He will kill the sheep and destroy the flock. The thief in this context is the Pharisee. The Pharisees wanted to take advantage of the flock.

I have come that they may have life [eternal, God’s kind of life],

Jesus came to impart eternal life. He does not take lives but gives His own. He gives the same kind of life that God has, a quantitative and qualitative life.

and that they may have it more abundantly.

The life that Jesus gives is abundant life, a life rich with meaning. He does not destroy the sheep but benefits them by His overflowing grace. This is a rich life that no one can have without Christ.

The word “abundantly” means that which goes beyond necessity. Jesus provides in a way that goes far beyond what is necessary when it comes to eternal life and its operating assets. This goes farther than what would normally have been expected from Him. It is abundant in the sense that it is inexhaustible, not that it is free from problems.

PRINCIPLE:

Jesus provides life to the fullest.

APPLICATION:

Jesus’ genuine disciples enjoy not only eternal life, but life at its best. He came that they might relish this and the coming eternal life to the full. The life that Jesus gives is more than an extension of this mortal life. It is a new quality of eternal life that begins at the moment of salvation.

The promise of life abundant does not refer to material riches but to spiritual abundance. This deals with rich spiritual life and living.

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