That All May Have Fullness of Life
‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ — John 10:1-10 (NRSV)
Prayer:
Eternal God, in the reading of the Scripture, may your Word be heard; in the meditations of our hearts, may your Word be known; and in the faithfulness of our lives, may your Word be shown. “The Grass withers and the flower fades but the Word of God will stand forever.” Amen.
It is said that some people write books for their diversion and publish them for their profit or applause, others to instruct the world in religion, arts and science for their secular advantage. But the Gospel writer John wrote without any view of temporal benefit to himself, but only to persuade women and men to believe that Jesus is the Chirst, that he really suffered, died and rose again from the dead; and to show them that through trust in him, all may obtain fullness of life as God intended it to be.
And so we hear those words again and again from John 10:10, “I have come that all may have life, and have it more abundantly”. These words in John tell us that Jesus Christ came that we could experience life in all its fullness. They convey the unique role of Jesus and his genuine love and concern for humankind. Jesus Christ grants access to the richer life that God makes available by God’s grace. For Christians, life with Jesus is the open door to God.
In our Scripture lesson, Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd who comes so that his sheep would have fullness of life. Jesus offers each person a life of meaning and purpose. He wants to see us living our lives in joyful submission to God’s holy will and in selfless and sacrificial service to all God’s people, regardless of creed, race, gender, age or social status. When we embrace God’s gift of abundant life, our own lives become meaningful and purposeful. It is only then that we can make a positive difference in the lives of others.
There is no doubt that we live in a world of great darkness and brokenness. Apart from the present crisis of this pandemic, there are still a number of people affected by the HIV/Aids. Poverty, incest, drug abuse, rape and other violent crimes against humanity, even cruelty against animals and destructive behavior play havoc in the society, in the home and family life.
How sad and unfortunate it is to see humankind spurn God’s gift of life and instead embrace destruction and death. There seem to have been a strong current of emptiness, meaninglessness and hopelessness in our country, the Caribbean and world even before this pandemic we face now. But Christ wants the best for us as the Good Shepherd, so why should we settle for less?
Why do some people still choose death instead of life, darkness instead of light, havoc instead of harmony, and destruction instead of salvation?
It is evident that many have rejected this abundant life which Jesus Chirst, the Good Shepherd offers. The question is, how can each of us encourage each other to embrace once again this abundant life that Jesus offers, in very real and practical ways? How can we encourage each other to live wholesome lives especially in these challenging and changing times?
God’s Word challenges us today to seek this abundant life in Christ. Since we are God’s stewards, God’s managers of this earth, God expects us to be faithful and obedient to God’s commandment. We have a mutual responsibility to all God’s people, especially those who are marginalized and broken. Our very survival depends on our return to God’s ways of justice, peace, love, compassion and forgiveness. We need to recognize not only our own worth, but also the worth of others. We need to have a genuine love and concern for all of God’s Creation.
Let us then be faithful and wise – choose life, light, harmony and salvation over death, darkness, havoc and destruction. In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our risen, Saviour, and the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Guide. Amen!
So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’ — John 10:1-10 (NRSV)
Prayer:
Eternal God, in the reading of the Scripture, may your Word be heard; in the meditations of our hearts, may your Word be known; and in the faithfulness of our lives, may your Word be shown. “The Grass withers and the flower fades but the Word of God will stand forever.” Amen.
It is said that some people write books for their diversion and publish them for their profit or applause, others to instruct the world in religion, arts and science for their secular advantage. But the Gospel writer John wrote without any view of temporal benefit to himself, but only to persuade women and men to believe that Jesus is the Chirst, that he really suffered, died and rose again from the dead; and to show them that through trust in him, all may obtain fullness of life as God intended it to be.
And so we hear those words again and again from John 10:10, “I have come that all may have life, and have it more abundantly”. These words in John tell us that Jesus Christ came that we could experience life in all its fullness. They convey the unique role of Jesus and his genuine love and concern for humankind. Jesus Christ grants access to the richer life that God makes available by God’s grace. For Christians, life with Jesus is the open door to God.
In our Scripture lesson, Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd who comes so that his sheep would have fullness of life. Jesus offers each person a life of meaning and purpose. He wants to see us living our lives in joyful submission to God’s holy will and in selfless and sacrificial service to all God’s people, regardless of creed, race, gender, age or social status. When we embrace God’s gift of abundant life, our own lives become meaningful and purposeful. It is only then that we can make a positive difference in the lives of others.
There is no doubt that we live in a world of great darkness and brokenness. Apart from the present crisis of this pandemic, there are still a number of people affected by the HIV/Aids. Poverty, incest, drug abuse, rape and other violent crimes against humanity, even cruelty against animals and destructive behavior play havoc in the society, in the home and family life.
How sad and unfortunate it is to see humankind spurn God’s gift of life and instead embrace destruction and death. There seem to have been a strong current of emptiness, meaninglessness and hopelessness in our country, the Caribbean and world even before this pandemic we face now. But Christ wants the best for us as the Good Shepherd, so why should we settle for less?
Why do some people still choose death instead of life, darkness instead of light, havoc instead of harmony, and destruction instead of salvation?
It is evident that many have rejected this abundant life which Jesus Chirst, the Good Shepherd offers. The question is, how can each of us encourage each other to embrace once again this abundant life that Jesus offers, in very real and practical ways? How can we encourage each other to live wholesome lives especially in these challenging and changing times?
God’s Word challenges us today to seek this abundant life in Christ. Since we are God’s stewards, God’s managers of this earth, God expects us to be faithful and obedient to God’s commandment. We have a mutual responsibility to all God’s people, especially those who are marginalized and broken. Our very survival depends on our return to God’s ways of justice, peace, love, compassion and forgiveness. We need to recognize not only our own worth, but also the worth of others. We need to have a genuine love and concern for all of God’s Creation.
Let us then be faithful and wise – choose life, light, harmony and salvation over death, darkness, havoc and destruction. In the name of God our Creator, Jesus our risen, Saviour, and the Holy Spirit, our Teacher and Guide. Amen!
—The Rt. Rev. Joy Evelyn Abdul-Mohan
Moderator, Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago