Q. What did Jesus mean by “life more abundantly” in John 10:10?

A. This verse graphically contrasts the purpose of Jesus Christ with that of the Devil. To properly understand its meaning, one should read it with the preceding verse: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-10).

In Christ’s referring to Himself as “the door,” He was emphasizing that He is the way to salvation. If any man enter in—that is, through Him—he shall be saved. “Life” refers to the everlasting life that salvation brings. Also, that person will find “pasture,” referring to abundant life, or the constant nourishment necessary to maintain life. It is a testimony to the eternal nature of salvation, beginning the moment we are saved.

In contrast, the scribes and Pharisees steal, kill, and destroy. They preached a salvation by works, a false message of salvation that persists among most religious groups outside of evangelical Christianity even today.

Does this abundant life benefit us in the here and now? There are no guarantees that it does so from a worldly standpoint. From a spiritual standpoint, it certainly does. The Blessed Hope of Christ’s return (Titus 2:13) gives us an anchor that will hold throughout the storms of life. Also, for the Spirit-indwelt Christian, “The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16) do not hold the compelling attraction that they do for the unbeliever. So the Christian has the advantage, not only of pleasing the Lord and attaining great rewards in heaven, but also of avoiding some of the pitfalls of this life that inevitably fall upon individuals who are not so motivated.