An Abundance of Life
Welcome to Backyard Conversations, the blog environment of 100-Fold ministries, where we like to chat about things that really matter! Like not just life, but having an abundance of life! We are starting off this new year with a brief series on the themes of life, light and love. Let’s get started.
The Apostle John picks up on things that the other gospel writers seem to miss. His memory of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the light of His life, seems to be cut through a different kind of prism. It is the same light coming in, but for John, the colors are in a different order and certain bands of light have a wonderous brilliance.
The “three Ls” of Life, Light and Love consistently find their way into the vocabulary of John. For instance, in his old age, John wrote a series of letters to the early church of Asia Minor. They circulated these letters among the churches, and they explored the realities of Christ from His unique vantage point;
John later tells a story that helps us understand that Life came to us, not just so we could watch it or even emulate this life. But Jesus is telling us this “Living Life” has power and authority and wonder that has been made available to all of us who love Him in spirit and power. This is Jesus talking in John chapter 10:
Jesus ‘the gate’ – what an interesting word picture. We say to ourselves, “Oh, a gate. A door. I get it. We have to go through Jesus to get in.” Ok – that’s kinda true but actually that misses the point. The word picture Jesus is drawing from to make His point is inspired by teaching that every good Jewish child would know by heart. This passage is a Messianic prophetic verse from 700 years before Jesus walked on earth…
![](https://100foldministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Blog-026-02-x263.png")
Let’s settle in on verse 10 in this passage for a moment where Jesus says:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not to get. He comes that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, and eternal.
This word “abundant” in the Greek is perisson, look how it is so richly defined:
“Exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.”
The Apostle Paul later puts it this way: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). And another time, Paul goes on to tell the church in Ephesus that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and He does it by His power, a power that is at work within us if we belong to Him” (Ephesians 3:20).
So, let’s review what we all most likely know – Abundant Life, certainly at the very least, means eternal life. A never-ending life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior. And that goes on from that point throughout all eternity. However, like we were saying at first, the point isn’t really my life. The point is THE LIFE! The biblical definition of life — specifically eternal life — is provided by Jesus Himself:
Jesus tells us in His Sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) that possessions, prestige, position, and power in this world are not God’s priorities for us. Most Christians of the early church did not come from the privileged classes in terms of economic, academic, and social status. And mostly, around the world today, that is still true. If it was all about money then Jesus would have been filthy rich, but instead, He had no place to lay his head. It can’t be about stuff!
No, the Apostle Peter tells us that a Christian’s life consists of growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Pete is telling us that the Abundant Life means being rooted in Christ, drawing your life from Him. Growing in Him. Abiding in Him. It means learning, and practicing, and going deeper yet. But it also means falling and failing, standing back up and persevering and overcoming.
Can I say something? Life in Christ is exciting. It is risky, filled with the unexpected, filled with unusual power over our emotions and our appetites and our attitudes. Do you think of it that way? The abundant life in Christ is consuming and invigorating. It is rare – exceptionally rare. It is counter cultural and revolutionary. It is seditious. It is transforming. As we live longer in Christ, we discover that sin is boring and unproductive and demeaning to us and others and God. It loses its flavor when I find the abundant life.
So, where do we get hung up? How come so much of my life is seemingly so meh? Where is that crazy pressed down and shaken together life? Where is the 100-fold life that Jesus was so adamant about?
For now, let me finish with an account that only John records in His gospel. It surprises me that only John seemed pressed upon to share this story of an overflowing and miraculous life. It is from the account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. I am going to put much of the story here so that you can refresh yourselves with the details. As you read it look for the most important sentence in the story!
You, like Lazarus, have been lifted from death to life. You are no longer the same. You are a new creature transformed by Christ’s saving love. Now perhaps, you may be still living in the grave clothes of your old life. And I promise you, they will hold you back. You will need help with those grave clothes. You won’t be able to wrestle out of them by yourself. But make no mistake, God is freeing you from what was and offering you so much more. Out you will come from the darkness of that old cave and into His marvelous life, light and love! And you will find more. Much more. You will find abundant life!
This is Backyard Conversations and I am Dave Scherrer. You can also find some thoughts in our podcast environment called Kingdom Offerings located on our homepage – 100foldministries.org. In either place, you can drop me an email and we can continue these conversations. Peace to you in this new year.
The Apostle John picks up on things that the other gospel writers seem to miss. His memory of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the light of His life, seems to be cut through a different kind of prism. It is the same light coming in, but for John, the colors are in a different order and certain bands of light have a wonderous brilliance.
The “three Ls” of Life, Light and Love consistently find their way into the vocabulary of John. For instance, in his old age, John wrote a series of letters to the early church of Asia Minor. They circulated these letters among the churches, and they explored the realities of Christ from His unique vantage point;
-
1 John 1:1-2
…We have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life…
John later tells a story that helps us understand that Life came to us, not just so we could watch it or even emulate this life. But Jesus is telling us this “Living Life” has power and authority and wonder that has been made available to all of us who love Him in spirit and power. This is Jesus talking in John chapter 10:
-
John 10:7-10
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep.
8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus ‘the gate’ – what an interesting word picture. We say to ourselves, “Oh, a gate. A door. I get it. We have to go through Jesus to get in.” Ok – that’s kinda true but actually that misses the point. The word picture Jesus is drawing from to make His point is inspired by teaching that every good Jewish child would know by heart. This passage is a Messianic prophetic verse from 700 years before Jesus walked on earth…
-
Micah 2:12-13
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.
Let’s settle in on verse 10 in this passage for a moment where Jesus says:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Unlike a thief, the Lord Jesus does not come for selfish reasons. He comes to give, not to get. He comes that people may have life in Him that is meaningful, purposeful, joyful, and eternal.
This word “abundant” in the Greek is perisson, look how it is so richly defined:
“Exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.”
The Apostle Paul later puts it this way: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). And another time, Paul goes on to tell the church in Ephesus that God “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, and He does it by His power, a power that is at work within us if we belong to Him” (Ephesians 3:20).
So, let’s review what we all most likely know – Abundant Life, certainly at the very least, means eternal life. A never-ending life that begins the moment we come to Christ and receive Him as Savior. And that goes on from that point throughout all eternity. However, like we were saying at first, the point isn’t really my life. The point is THE LIFE! The biblical definition of life — specifically eternal life — is provided by Jesus Himself:
-
John 17:3
“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Jesus tells us in His Sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) that possessions, prestige, position, and power in this world are not God’s priorities for us. Most Christians of the early church did not come from the privileged classes in terms of economic, academic, and social status. And mostly, around the world today, that is still true. If it was all about money then Jesus would have been filthy rich, but instead, He had no place to lay his head. It can’t be about stuff!
No, the Apostle Peter tells us that a Christian’s life consists of growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Pete is telling us that the Abundant Life means being rooted in Christ, drawing your life from Him. Growing in Him. Abiding in Him. It means learning, and practicing, and going deeper yet. But it also means falling and failing, standing back up and persevering and overcoming.
Can I say something? Life in Christ is exciting. It is risky, filled with the unexpected, filled with unusual power over our emotions and our appetites and our attitudes. Do you think of it that way? The abundant life in Christ is consuming and invigorating. It is rare – exceptionally rare. It is counter cultural and revolutionary. It is seditious. It is transforming. As we live longer in Christ, we discover that sin is boring and unproductive and demeaning to us and others and God. It loses its flavor when I find the abundant life.
So, where do we get hung up? How come so much of my life is seemingly so meh? Where is that crazy pressed down and shaken together life? Where is the 100-fold life that Jesus was so adamant about?
For now, let me finish with an account that only John records in His gospel. It surprises me that only John seemed pressed upon to share this story of an overflowing and miraculous life. It is from the account of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. I am going to put much of the story here so that you can refresh yourselves with the details. As you read it look for the most important sentence in the story!
-
John 11:17-44
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
You, like Lazarus, have been lifted from death to life. You are no longer the same. You are a new creature transformed by Christ’s saving love. Now perhaps, you may be still living in the grave clothes of your old life. And I promise you, they will hold you back. You will need help with those grave clothes. You won’t be able to wrestle out of them by yourself. But make no mistake, God is freeing you from what was and offering you so much more. Out you will come from the darkness of that old cave and into His marvelous life, light and love! And you will find more. Much more. You will find abundant life!
This is Backyard Conversations and I am Dave Scherrer. You can also find some thoughts in our podcast environment called Kingdom Offerings located on our homepage – 100foldministries.org. In either place, you can drop me an email and we can continue these conversations. Peace to you in this new year.