What Did Jesus Mean When He Said I Came That They May Have Life and Have It Abundantly?

When Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” what did He really mean? This statement is found in John 10:10, and it’s one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. It speaks to the heart of why Jesus came to earth and what His mission was all about.

What Does “Abundant Life” Mean?

So, what does “abundant life” mean? The Greek word used here for “abundant” is perissos, which means “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more than enough, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.” In short, Jesus came to give us more than we could ever ask or imagine – a life that is truly abundant.

This abundant life that Jesus offers is not just about having material possessions or a comfortable lifestyle. It’s not about being free from pain and suffering or living a perfect life without any problems.

Instead, it’s about having a deep sense of joy and peace that comes from knowing God and living in His will. It’s about having a purpose and direction in life that goes beyond our own selfish desires and ambitions.

How Do We Obtain Abundant Life?

So how do we obtain this abundant life that Jesus offers? It starts with recognizing our need for Him.

We are all sinners who have fallen short of God’s standard (Romans 3:23). We cannot earn our way into heaven or attain abundant life on our own – it’s only through faith in Jesus Christ that we can receive these things (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Once we’ve placed our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we can begin to experience abundant life through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit helps us to live in obedience to God’s commands and to grow in our relationship with Him. As we do this, we will begin to see the fruits of the Spirit in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

The Benefits of Abundant Life

Living abundantly in Christ has many benefits that extend beyond this life. Here are a few examples:

  • Eternal Life: Abundant life means that we have eternal life with God (John 3:16). We can have confidence that even when we die physically, we will live on with Him forever.
  • Peace: When we trust in Jesus and follow His ways, we can experience a deep sense of peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
  • Joy: Abundant life means that we can experience true joy regardless of our circumstances.

    This joy comes from knowing God and living in His will (Psalm 16:11).

  • Fulfillment: When we live for God’s purposes rather than our own desires, our lives become more fulfilling and meaningful. We begin to see how our lives fit into God’s grand plan for the world.

The Challenges of Abundant Life

Living abundantly in Christ doesn’t mean that life will always be easy or free from difficulty. In fact, Jesus warned us that following Him would come with its own set of challenges (John 16:33). Here are a few examples:

  • Persecution: Jesus told His disciples that they would be persecuted for their faith (Matthew 5:10-12). The same is true for us today – standing up for what we believe in can sometimes lead to ridicule or even physical harm.
  • Sacrifice: Living abundantly in Christ means putting God’s will above our own desires.

    This can sometimes mean making sacrifices or giving up things that we would rather hold onto (Mark 8:34-35).

  • Temptation: The devil wants nothing more than to see us fall away from God. Living abundantly in Christ means being aware of the devil’s schemes and resisting temptation (James 4:7).

Conclusion

In conclusion, when Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” He was offering us so much more than just a comfortable life on earth. He was offering us a life that is truly fulfilling and meaningful – a life that leads to eternal joy and peace with God.

This abundant life is available to anyone who places their trust in Jesus as their Savior and seeks to live for Him. While living abundantly in Christ may come with its own set of challenges, the benefits far outweigh any temporary difficulty we may face.