Sunday, April 6, 2008
John 10:1-10
Senior Pastor
Jesus utters in verse 10 of this 10th chapter of John one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture. He says: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. This is a summary of his purpose. It has served as a guiding statement in my ministry for several decades now. Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly! I really like that.
In fact, I worked it into our Mission statement that we wrote a few years ago. Our mission statement reads: First Church provides a compass to guide people on their journey of discovering a more abundant life as 3-D Christians. Then we quote John 10:10: I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.
But what exactly is abundant life? What is Jesus promising or offering to us? It is not a term that is used extensively in scripture. Well, that is not quite right. It is actually not found anywhere else in all of scripture. This is the only place where it is recorded that Jesus spoke of abundant life.
Now the danger here is that, without some reinforcing information, we will take our views of abundant life and read them into what Jesus says. There are surely lots of competing claims in our day, in our culture, as to what makes up the good life or an abundant life.
Recently our television quit working. So, I did a little research and purchased a new television with high definition capabilities, that is, with the newer technology to deliver a crisper picture. But I also found out to get that signal you have to upgrade your service to receive the high definition signal. With upgraded service comes a greatly expanded number of television channels. So on a couple of occasions I have spent some time running through all these new stations. I have been more than a little surprised about what is available nowadays via television. There are a number of channels that broadcast programs all-day-long that suggest that satisfying your sexual appetites is the way to the good life.
There are others that are all about following the celebrities and tell us what they are doing. Now some of these focus on trashing the celebrities, but there are others that highlight the glitz and glamour of a celebrity lifestyle as if that is the model of the good life.
Of course there are a number of self-help programs, where the host and the guests are working to solve problems that folks face. Some of these are better than others, but they still focus on what people are doing or not doing in their lives, with very little, if any, mention of God or spiritual life as a key component to living a good life or having an abundant life.
All of these appeal to one part of our psyche or another. But perhaps the one that garners the most attention in our culture today are the shows that promise the good life through some kind of wealth building system. It might be real estate or online sales or day trading on the stock market. There are lots of options that promise great wealth and in a short amount of time. The offer is not just money, but it is the lifestyle that big bucks can buy – exotic vacations, multiple mansions, private airplanes, and finally personal fulfillment and complete contentment. The lure is not just the money or the luxury items, I think it is the idea of comfort, a life of ease. It seems to be suggesting that a life in which I don’t have to do anything would be an abundant life.
I don’t know for sure, but I think Jesus might argue with that one. Let’s look closer to see what we can discover about what Jesus means when he says I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.
There are three clues here that will help us.
The first clue to the meaning of abundant life is found in verse 9 where Jesus says, I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. It is a promise that following him will bring you to a place of provision for both your soul and your body. Related to this is the notion that we do not provide that for ourselves but that this is provided for followers through Christ. The sheep do not provide the pasture; they are led into the pasture. Christ is the gate; as we enter into life through him, we find salvation, freedom and sustenance. It is a promise of provision when we do it his way.
The second clue comes when he says I came that they… not you, but they as in plural, more than one, the whole group. Actually, as I thought about it I realized that this whole passage is set in the context of what is good for the group. It starts with a shepherd who has a sheep herd, not just one sheep, but a whole herd. It is a promise to the people, to the community, not just to an individual. As Americans we tend to see our faith as only personal. This passage suggests that Jesus thinks of abundant life as a community experience. So this is a clue that abundant life happens in community, with a group of others.
The final clue we need to put this altogether is actually just beyond where we read today. We stopped on verse 10, but in verse 11 Jesus elaborates about the image of the shepherd by saying, The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He repeats it again in verse 15 and verse 17. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, for the people, for the community. It is a model he acts out in John chapter 13 when he washes the feet of the disciples and says I have set you an example. The example is one of service, of doing for others. I lay down my life for others. I give my life for others. Abundant life comes through giving to and serving others.
So with those three clues we find that certainly this abundant life Jesus is referring to is not the same as our culture would suggest. It is not self-satisfaction, it is not celebrity, it is not a life of ease. The good life, the abundant life is a life not that we achieve on our own, but is one we experience when we enter into life as Jesus did, with God at the center. And that further means it is a life lived with and for others. It happens in a broader community context and it is based on all of us choosing to give our lives in service for the good of others.
A couple of years ago Autry Technology Center hosted a fellow named Jack Schultz. He has made it his life work to help smaller communities recognize and build upon their unique resources. He talked about the importance of smaller communities, like ours, making their contribution to the larger good of our country. I signed up for his newsletter and in a recent issue he profiled a fellow named Norman Asbjornson.
Norman grew up in
Winifred, Montana, and started his first business at the age of 10, hauling
garbage for the majority of the residents – now that is only 150 people. Nonetheless, he was an industrious
fellow. Yet, like many high school
seniors, he was ready to leave his small town behind after graduation. After a stint in the Army, he graduated from
Montana State University and worked for decades for a heating and
air-conditioning manufacturer.
Then he founded his
own company, AAON, in 1988. The company was listed by Forbes magazine as one of
the fastest growing companies in America, grossing about $150 million in annual
sales. It also made Forbes magazine's 2007 list of best small companies.
But listen to
this. Even though Norman had achieved
great wealth, the article noted that Norman realized that even with all his
successes, he needed something more. Lucky for small Winifred, Montana!
Norman realized that Winifred molded his character, and he was connected to
that community in important ways. He
valued that community and wanted to preserve that lifestyle for others. Over the past few years, thanks to Norman,
this town of 150 people has a new city hall, library, museum and community
center. In addition, students receive scholarships to attend Montana State
University.
In 2003, Norman expanded his giving for
others by creating a $1 million scholarship for graduates of Montana schools
with 100 or fewer students. "I'm getting a chance to influence the lives
of generations of children," he commented.
Now the article did not tell us anything about his religious
affiliation, but you can see that Norman has made the move from thinking
about abundant life as what I can get to the experience that life is more
abundant when giving to others.
It happens in community.
God offers it to us.
Jesus says: I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly. Are we ready to follow him? Are we ready to participate in such a life? Let’s participate in the power of Easter! Let’s go out and live the promise.
First Church provides a compass to guide people on their
journey of discovering a more ________________ life…
But what exactly is abundant life?
What is Jesus promising or ________________ to us?
…lots of competing claims in our day, in our culture,
as to
what makes up the ________ life…
…shows that promise the good life through some kind of
_____________ building system.
The first clue to the meaning of abundant life…verse ___…
It is a promise that following him will bring you to a
place of
__________________ for both your soul and your body.
…a clue that abundant life happens in community…
The final clue… in verse ____
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Abundant life comes through ____________ to and
______________ others.
Norman Asbjornson… grew up in Winifred, Montana…
Norman has made the move… life is more abundant
when giving…
It happens in __________________.
God offers it to us.
Kid’s Question:
Abundant life comes through
____________ to and ______________ others.