What does it mean that God gives us life more abundantly (John 10:10)?

Answer

John 10 begins with Jesus addressing the Pharisees, “And some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these words, and said unto him, ‘Are we blind also?'”, (John 9:40), with a parable or figure of speech about the authenticity of the shepherd and his care for the sheep, contrasting with the inauthenticity of thieves and robbers who would harm the sheep (John 10:1-5). John adds that the audience did not understand what Jesus was saying, “This parable Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what things they were which he spoke to them.”, (John 10:6). So Jesus continues down the same illustrative path with another parable to further clarify the first one. He adds in the middle of His next parable that God gives us life “more abundantly,” “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”, (John 10:10, NKJV).

Jesus first emphasizes that He is the door of the sheep, “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”, (John 10:7)—He is the authentic shepherd He mentioned in the first parable, “But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”, (John 10:2). Jesus adds that those who enter through the door—through the authentic shepherd or good shepherd, as He calls Himself in John 10:10—will be saved, going in and…Out and finding pasture, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”, (John 10:9). With these references, Jesus explains that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”, (John 14:6). He is the authentic shepherd, or the good shepherd who provides life (or freedom and pasture, in the parable) for His sheep.

Jesus then reiterates the contrast between Himself and the thief who comes to steal and destroy. Jesus comes to give us life more abundantly, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”, (John 10:10). He would accomplish this—as a good shepherd would—by laying His life down for His sheep, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”, (John 10:11). Jesus would lay down His own life, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”, (John 10:18) as a sacrifice for sin so that those who believe in Him would not be lost (perish) but would have eternal life, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”, (John 3:16).

3:16)—God would give them life more abundantly «The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. », (John 10:10).

There are various worldviews and belief systems that claim to provide a path for us to experience true life, fulfillment, and to be like God—Satan’s initial temptation of humanity presented an alternative means to be like God «for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. », (Genesis 3:5). However, Jesus is the genuine shepherd—the good shepherd «I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. », (John 10:11) who offers the path to a correct relationship with the Father «Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. », (John 14:6). It is solely through Jesus that God grants us life more abundantly «The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. », (John 10:10).

The Pharisees essentially enslaved the people they instructed. The Pharisaic system was legalistic and preached that, only by strictly adhering to the Law of Moses, could individuals enter God’s kingdom and receive His blessing. Jesus strongly rebukes the Pharisees, clarifying that they were teaching the incorrect path to righteousness and life «For I say unto you, That exceptYour righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees; otherwise, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20). Jesus explained in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7) that the display of external righteousness was not genuine righteousness. To attain righteousness and abundant life, one needed to believe in Him. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47).

In the parables of John 10, Jesus contrasts Himself particularly with the Pharisees. They were the thieves and robbers who harmed the sheep, while He was the authentic and good shepherd through whom God provides life abundantly. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). The Pharisees’ way was deceitful and led to death. This is why Jesus, on multiple occasions, referred to them as vipers. “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7, 12:34, 23:33). On the contrary, Jesus’ path led not only to life but to an overflowing life, life more abundantly. Jesus’ path was the genuine and true path to righteousness and abundant life. Through Him, we have life more abundantly. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).In John 10:10.