Page 76 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

abundance of money and possessions, creature comforts, a fat wallet, a prestigious job, the nicest home in
town, and the sleekest car in the driveway. Yet I see no indication that Jesus offered His followers anything by
way of material wealth. No stack of money. No pension. No insurance coverage. Not even a guarantee of safety.
In fact, He promised them quite the opposite (Luke 9:22 – 25).

Jesus was not preaching against wealth, per se. As far as Jesus was concerned, money and possessions are
morally neutral and have no relation whatsoever to the new Kingdom, except that they might distract us from
want He considered important. So, if abundance is not cash, possessions, or comfort, what is it? Given that
Jesus’ inner circle of followers suffered persecution and died as martyrs, what kind of abundance did they
receive? The abundance Jesus offers is a spiritual abundance that transcends circumstances like income, health,
living conditions, and even death.

The abundance Jesus offers is a spiritual abundance that transcends

circumstances like income, health, living conditions, and even death.

The abundant life is life that never ends, yet we don’t have to wait until the end of our physical life to receive
this abundance and to enjoy it. Abundant life includes peace, purpose, destiny, a genuine purpose for living, the
joy of facing adversity – including the grave – without fear, and the ability to endure hardship with confident
assurance.

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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired man, since he is
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not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The
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wolf then snatches and scatters them. [This happens] because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the
sheep. “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, as the Father knows Me, and I
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know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep. But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must
bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the
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Father loves Me, because I am laying down
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My life so I may take it up again. No one
takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My
own. I have the right to lay it down, and I
have the right to take it up again. I have
received this command from My Father.”
19 Again a division took place among the
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Jews because of these words. Many of
them were saying, “He has a demon and
He’s crazy! Why do you listen to Him?”
21 Others were saying, “These aren’t the
words of someone demon-possessed. Can a
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demon open the eyes of the blind?” Then
the Festival of Dedication took place in
Jerusalem, and it was winter.

As the good shepherd, Jesus knows His
sheep and they know Him (10:2 – 4). The
verb know is used four times in versus 14 –
16 (10:2 – 4). The thought carries the idea of
intimacy. It is not that they merely (know
about) one another, but that they truly know one another. The Shepherd knows his sheep because he loves
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