I've been hearing some of those comments on Jesus' use of the term, "abundant life" in John 10. So I wrote a little reminder of the context.
safeguard crackJohn 10. The "abundant" life. American Christians are darned sure they know what that means. It means life will be "good." This religion thing will pay short term benefits. We'll be happy, and we'll be satisfied and content. Reminds me of some other passages.
It's like when the prosperity Gospel preachers start quoting 3 John 2 "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." PROSPERS!! PROSPERS!! We know what that is all about! We're experts!
It reminds me of the people's complaint in Malachi 3:
13 "Your words have been harsh against Me,"
Says the LORD,
"Yet you say,
"What have we spoken against You?'
14 You have said,
"It is useless to serve God;
What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance,
And that we have walked as mourners
Before the LORD of hosts?
15 So now we call the proud blessed,
For those who do wickedness are raised up;
They even tempt God and go free."'
In John 10 Jesus is using the analogy of the Great Shepherd to describe his relationship with his people. It's a rich image, going back to David's role as shepherd-King, and the theology of the 23rd Psalm and elsewhere.John 10:6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
In verse 7, the analogy shifts from shepherd to sheepfold, as Jesus describes himself as the door.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door 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 door. 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. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.I'm sure you know that some scholars believe Jesus is actually staying with the shepherd analogy, but making reference to the shepherd himself lying in the sheepfold door as the "gate." Many scholars don't follow this, but it's interesting.
It's in this context that Jesus uses the term "abundant" life. Preachers have mined this little word to the bottom in order make Jesus say that Christians have a better life than other people. The fact that Jesus is speaking of his corporate care of his people, and his commitment that they will be fed and protected, gets turned into something unrecognizable in the text, but recognizable to everyone else. (You really have to hear this unfolded to American teenagers to appreciate it.)
I don't particularly see that this passage is promising anything other than Jesus providing eternal life and security for those who belong to him. Everything is put in "sheep" terms, and that's pretty simple!
I wouldn't argue too strongly with anyone who said Jesus promises happiness. I would just direct them to the sermon on the mount and many other teachings of Jesus and ask if they've read the whole thing?
Mark 10:29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [2] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.