(John 10:10)

This verse is one that many people know—especially the last part of the verse ‘I came

that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ But what is this abundant life?

For many people, I think that the first thing that people think about is the hereafter—

abundant life is about the life we will experience after we die.

I think that this is part of the understanding of the verse—but not completely.

Christianity is not solely focused upon what happens after we die. While Jesus’ gift of

eternal life is part of the Christian faith, it is not the only or primary part of our faith. I

think about Jesus’ words where he proclaims that the Kingdom of God has come near.

God’s kingdom is not just in heaven, but is already upon us here and now.

Hence, when Jesus is talking about being the Good Shepherd who watches over his flock

and calls them by name and announces that he came to bring life to people—an abundant

life—I think that this life is multidimensional. It does reference an abundant life in

heaven, but I also think that Jesus has come so that this life (here and now) can be an

abundant life as well.

So what does this abundant life look like?

I do not think that the abundant life is simply a pie in the sky thing—where if we have

enough faith everything is fine and dandy and we do not experience problems. For we

know this is not a reality. Life has hardships and difficulties. Not everything works out

the way that we want it too. However, the abundant life that Jesus is talking about is one

that is filled with forgiveness, grace and love.

Think about it, isn’t life more abundant when it is lived out where we can freely forgive

others and receive forgiveness from others? Isn’t life more abundant when we know that

Jesus is the true shepherd who watches over us and protect us? Isn’t life more abundant

when we know that we will never be abandoned or forsaken, but that Jesus and the Holy

Spirit is with us always? Isn’t life more abundant when we live out a grace-centered life?

Jesus tells us that he came to bring life and life abundantly. This abundant life is about

both the life we will have after we die, but is also about the life Jesus desires for us as we

seek to live our lives out on a day to day basis.