What More Could We Need? (John 10:10)
- Ben James
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” —John 10:10
Are you ever unsatisfied with your life? Do you often find your heart wants more? This isn’t a unique feeling; it is the experience of humanity. We want more. Often, however, we don’t know what the more is, so we find ourselves looking for it. We look to possessions, we look to experiences, we look to loved ones (or for loved ones), or we look to the pleasures of this world. But none of these truly satisfy our soul’s deepest longing.
The World’s Theft
Jesus exposes the futility and danger of our unsatisfying pursuit for more, explaining, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
This is a serious indictment against “the thief,” so we should ask, who is he? Jesus is talking here to the Pharisees: men who promise joy, blessing, and security to those who will live a certain way. To say it another way, Jesus is talking to those who believe doing certain things will give them the more they crave. In many ways, then, Jesus is talking to our own hearts when we buy into the worldly promise of the “good life.” He is telling us, any time we think a feeling, experience, possession, or pleasure in this world will satisfy our hearts, we are deceived.
What does Jesus say about this sort of “life”? He says that it will steal from, kill, and destroy us. Pursuing joy through the things of this world cannot satisfy. Our worldly pursuits—our sins—steal our joy and displace it with shame. They kill our peace, filling us with fear. And they destroy our life, bringing only death.
The Shepherd’s Gift
Mercifully, Jesus doesn’t simply warn us about the world’s empty promise of the “good life.” Instead, He shows us that He is the glorious alternative our hearts crave. Jesus follows His warning with the promise, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus came to give us the more we are looking for.
How does He do this? In the next verse he explains: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Unlike the things of this world that promise life only to steal it away, Jesus lays down His life to give to us true, abundant life.
Those who are in Christ, have life in Him. This is not merely a promise for the future, but a present reality. Jesus lived, died, rose, and reigns so that today, His people have the abundant life our hearts desire. As His treasured possession (Titus 2:14, Exodus 19:5), we have the love our hearts crave. In His presence, He offers the intimacy our hearts long for. Children of God have the identity our hearts search for. We have the joy our hearts hunger for in a life set free from the power and punishment of sin.
What does this mean for us today? Jesus doesn’t simply forgive our sins—that is miraculous enough—He also satisfies our souls! When we are tempted to discontent by our social media feeds, or when we are tempted to lust by an ad, or whenever we think this world will give us the more we want—the “good life”—we must remember that we already have true, abundant life in Jesus.
We have no lack because Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has given us everything by giving us Himself. What more could we need?
For Reflection
What is the more you often pursue to satisfy your heart’s longings?
What promises of Jesus satisfy your heart’s longing for more?
How does Jesus’ gift of abundant life today help you fight sin?
Ben James is the Associate Pastor of Chapelwood Baptist Church in Indianapolis, IN. He has served Chapelwood since 2020, beginning as an elder and going on staff in 2022 following his graduation from Indianapolis Theological Seminary in 2022. He also serves on the Administrative Team of Plant Indy which works alongside churches in the central Indiana area to plant and revitalize churches. He is married to Brentyn, and they have three wonderful children.