Oct 21. John 10. Kim Johnson
Transformational Thoughts on John 10:10
John 9 is the backdrop of John 10: Jesus just healed a man born blind and is telling the Pharisees that they are spiritually blind.
Jesus then opens with the differences between the thief and himself as the true Shepherd. He even emphasizes that his sheep will only listen to and follow him. In their spiritual blindness, the Pharisees are clueless as to what exactly Jesus is saying.
So, Jesus repeats himself. “I am the gate for the sheep”, Jesus says, “Whoever enters through me will be saved.”
All who had come before him were thieves and robbers. In John 10:10, he says that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy—Satan’s desire for us. But the purpose of Jesus’ coming is so that we will be saved from death, having life to the full.
Jesus explains this concept even further. Being the Good Shepherd who owns the flock, Jesus willingly lays down his life for his sheep. This is another one of those foreshadows of his death on the cross. John 10:10 has been a challenging passage for me to grasp because as the Pharisees, I too can be spiritually blind.
Many, many years ago, a brother had used this scripture for encouragement. As I was complaining about different situations in my life, he cited John 10:10 saying that God’s promise for us is to have life to the full.
Up until these last two years, I had pulled that scripture out of context with the expectation of God giving me physical things—fulfilling MY dreams, my “spiritual” dreams. This caused me to doubt God’s love for me and ask, “Where is that full life Lord that you promised me?” My Christian walk became more like what Paul describes in 2 Timothy 3:5 (NIV) “having a form of godliness but denying its power.”
As I reflected on how God has changed my life and my heart these past two years, I see the promise of a fulfilling life with a godly perspective. God has helped me to find his pure joy during my various trials of many kinds (James 1:2). Several times, I have experienced that peace that transcends all understanding which has protected my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
However, as I have prayed, studied, and meditated on John 10 these past few days, I realized that John 10:10 is not really about that either.
Though the promise of providing me with life to the full is true, when taken within the context of John 10 as paraphrased above, John 10:10 is more about Jesus and his purpose and not just about me and what I get.
So, for my salvation, Christ has died for me, and I must enter through him. His purpose was to give me life and for me to have it to the full. I have this full life because of Jesus. He has fulfilled his purpose with his death on the cross.
In other words, only Jesus can complete me. He has done his part of God’s plan in fulfilling his promises with his death on the cross. He also though is my mediator so that I may enter through him. (Hebrews 9:15) Again it is not me doing it.
Of course, when we take the whole Bible (Jesus himself) into context, it is all about Jesus, but it is also all about God fulfilling our every need, physically and spiritually. It is relational.
Matthew 6:33 (ERV)
33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do.
Then he will give you all these other things you need.
Hebrews 8:10 (EASY)
But now the Lord says this: After the time of that old agreement I will make a new agreement with Israel's people.
It will be like this:
I will put my laws into their thoughts.
I will write my laws deep inside them.
I will be their God and they will be my people.
Thank you, God, for your unending grace and love. You are so full of great patience and understanding. You are always ready to reveal to us your most awesome plan for each of us and for your kingdom. Help us Lord to continually surrender everything to you completely as we are being transformed into the likeness of Your Son each day. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.