14 day plan

The Word who brings life at Christmas

Day 13 of 14

NIV

John 10:10

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Reflection by Mike Raiter*

Some years ago, I was away from home. In the middle of the night my wife rang me. “Someone is trying to break into our apartment. What do I do?”. I told her to ring the police. By the time they arrived, the intruders had gone. We’ve lived in our apartment for over 10 years. We’ve had that many robberies or attempted break-ins. They’re scary. You feel vulnerable and personally invaded.

There are spiritual thieves who take and destroy. Satan, his demonic hosts, and his unwitting servants the false teachers. They ruin lives while only thinking of their own gain. These are the thieves Jesus is talking about here. But Jesus didn’t come to take away and leave us poor, but to give and make us rich.

At Christmas we remember Jesus, who didn’t just give us life, but life to the full. A life that is abundant, plentiful, lavish, generous, overflowing, inexhaustible, teeming. When my children were young – and, perhaps, if they’re honest, even now when they’re older – they loved lots of gifts around the Christmas tree. An abundance. Jesus gives us abundant life: forgiveness, adoption, eternal life, God as our Father, a family of countless brothers and sisters, a new identity, a new purpose, a transformed life, the indwelling Spirit, chosen, divine protection, answered prayers. And so much more.

Paul wrote that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). No-one has given more generously and abundantly than Jesus.  He is the cheerful giver. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus’ gifts, pre-eminently the gift of his life. It’s a season of joy. We rejoice and at the same time share in the joy of Jesus himself.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that you protect us from those spiritual forces who seek to destroy us. Above all, we praise you that, through the gift of your Son, you bless us with the fulness of life. By your power, keep us always in this life. Amen.

* Mike Raiter is the Director of the Centre for Biblical Preaching. He trains and mentors preachers around the world in faithful Biblical preaching.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

Days

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14

John 10:1-42

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

1“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

19The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

21But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

22Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

31Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? 35If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42And in that place many believed in Jesus.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.