Charlie Brown looks at Linus and says “What would you like to be when you grow up?” Linus responds with “Outrageously Happy!” I think his answer put in words from John 10:10 “Abundant Life”! But what is this abundant life referred to in John 10 but so elusive to so many of us.
Is this a picture of the abundant Life? Jesus seems to be saying we can understand it by considering that we are His sheep and He is our Good Shepherd.
Over the years most of us have heard many references to stupid sheep. We have missed just like Jesus listeners did. John 10:6 “Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.” Wow! Jesus was talking and they didn’t get it. Maybe they thought sheep were stupid, or just didn’t like the idea of being called a “follower”. If you follow the right leader it is smart.
In the next few verses in John 10 we are reminded that Jesus is the door for us to go in and out through, and we do so by hearing His voice and following Him. In India some years ago a man’s sheep was stolen. Because the other man asserted it was his own and there were no clear identifying marks, it was taken to a judge to settle. They both had friends and family that backed up there stories. The judge was baffled and asked for the sheep to be brought to the court. With the sheep on one side of the room the man presently possessing the sheep called it. It did not come. The man alleging it had been stolen came into the room and did the same thing. The sheep immediately responded. Pretty smart!
Jn 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” I’m suggesting to you that the abundant life just referenced is directly connected to knowing and responding to His voice. Christ in you is the source of abundant life (Jn 17:3; Jn 14:6). Perhaps in one way sheep are smarter than we are. They won’t listen to another voice. They aren’t chasing materialism (Luke 12:15), and worrying about tomorrows problems. They are letting the Good Shepherd lead them in and out to safety and good pasture.
Sheep aren’t models for self defense or how to retire by the age of thirty-five, yet they are content when in relationship with a good shepherd. (Psa 100:3)