A Life in Exile

Do you ever consider that as much as things change, the more they stay the same? A conversation with a friend had me thinking about the trials of this life and how imperfect we can find the supposedly “perfect” life in Christ. Isn’t that what the world likes to throw back at us? “You call yourselves Christian, and yet you find yourself in the middle of controversy, or broke, or without a job, or divorced, or…fill in the blanks. What has Jesus really done for you?”

I actually had that kind of accusation made at me once. All I could say in response was, “You don’t get it,” because he didn’t. The abundant life in Christ is not that everything is perfect in life but about seeing blessings and knowing Jesus’s presence even in the mess. Let’s go back to Scripture to see what Jesus said about it.

The confrontation.

John sets up the topic by letting us first see how opposition to Jesus’s ministry was growing. You would think that the healing of a man born blind would have been well-received by everyone, but it’s amazing how Satan can twist a good thing into an opportunity to attack and accuse.

The ninth chapter of John’s gospel tells us that his disciples were asking Jesus a question after seeing a blind man begging on the road. In that time, it was common for people to believe that illness or disability came as the result of someone’s sin. (Still happens a lot today as well). After Jesus answered that neither’s sin had led to this man’s blindness, he restored the man’s sight to illustrate his answer “that God’s works might be displayed in him” (John 9:3b CSB).

That’s exciting, right? You ask a question and Jesus answers in a way that’s beyond your imagination. For sure, the disciples were on a steep learning curve with this radical rabbi. While the disciples were happy and the man was obviously thrilled, his Jewish neighbors wanted to make sure everything was kosher by taking him to the Pharisees. What was the problem? It was the Sabbath—and there’s the rub.

After a big kerfuffle, which included pulling in the man’s parents, the man is eventually thrown out of the synagogue.

But Jesus found him.

I love this portion of the story, because John tells us that when Jesus heard about the problems the man had, he went to look for him. Isn’t that just like Jesus? He didn’t want the man to remain lost, even with his newfound sight. He wanted to make sure his spiritual sight was secure. Jesus asked the man:

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, Sir, that I may believe in him?” he asked.

Jesus answered, “You have seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

“I believe, Lord!” he said, and he worshiped him. (John 9:35b-38)

How do we know the man believed? He worshipped Jesus—unlike the Pharisees, who remained spiritually blind in the presence of the Light of the World.

The abundant life.

Using this confrontation with the Pharisees as a backdrop, Jesus turns back to his followers with another teachable moment, using another illustration. Sheep and sheep pens were all around them in the first century, and it would have been easy for Jesus to point to one or speak of one without the disciples missing the point.

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus had sought out that one man, that one sheep to make sure he was safely in the fold, because he knew the teaching of the Pharisees was getting him nowhere in relation to the Kingdom of God.

“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:1-5)

Still, without the power of the Holy Spirit, the disciples struggled to understand the illustration, so gently and graciously, Jesus makes it clear.

“Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” (John 10:7-10)

Unlike the religious leaders who offered only burdensome laws and condemnation, Jesus, our Good Shepherd offered them then, as he does us now, so much more. Look at the blessings of his Kingdom:

• Salvation: “He will be saved.” We are saved from sin, from death, and the evil of this world.
• Freedom: “He will come in and go out.” In Christ, we are free to be in this world, but not of it. Nothing can hold us back from his love, protection, and salvation.
• Pasture: “He will find pasture.” This is the promise of blessing, provision, and the meeting of our daily needs in Christ.
• Life: “I have come that they may have life.” We are given new life in Christ. Death no longer has a hold on us. Though we die, we will live.
• Abundant Life: “They may have life and have it in abundance.” Having our needs met is nothing in comparison with the peace, joy, and hope we receive in Christ Jesus. This is the abundant life he gives.

Back to the conversation with my friend. She’s gone through a hard season, but as she has leaned into, abided in, and clung to Jesus, she has an overwhelming peace. She can look back at the past several years of her life and compare it to where she is now in her walk with Christ and be thankful, even in the uncertainty of tomorrow, because she knows Jesus holds her tomorrow. He has brought her out to find green pastures of grace, love, and hope. With all the hurt, she’s found herself surrounded by an unusual assortment of Christ-followers, who have helped her along the way. She’s had some amazing conversations about God’s goodness and grace with believers and unbelievers, and she’s been able to give testimony to his love. That’s abundance in the midst of suffering.

Are you questioning the Abundant Life? Get into God’s Word. Listen to the words of Jesus from John’s gospel, especially from chapters ten through seventeen. Meditate on what he says, like this beautiful promise:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33, emphasis added)

May you rest in the abundant life of the Savior.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on the abundant life: Great Gain, Come, Buy without Money, Broken, The Good Shepherd: 4 – The Gated Community, and The Bitter and the Sweet.