There is a story that whispers of life—an echo of a heartbeat that refuses to be silenced. It speaks of Jesus of Nazareth, whose breath escaped him on a rugged cross, yet whose story did not end in a cold tomb. It’s a tale that begins where many assume it ends, at a grave, but this grave could not contain the magnitude of what it held.
The Door
John’s gospel account narrates a profound mystery—the door to life was found in a place of death. The tenth chapter of his book unveils a promise that transcends time:
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:9-10 NKJV.
Here, Jesus presents himself not merely as a doorway to safety but as the embodiment of life itself. He offers more than existence—A life brimming with purpose, a pasture where every need is met and every moment is saturated with divine meaning.
Christ is the door, an entrance to a new reality. Those who enter through Him are promised salvation, a journey into a spiritual pasture where they are fed and fulfilled. This metaphor extends to the essence of what it means to be alive, hinting at an existence so enriched by God’s presence that every other form of sustenance pales.
The tenth verse draws a line in the sand, contrasting the abundant life offered by Christ with the thief’s destructive intentions. The thief—the personification of all that steals joy, kills hope and destroys peace—opposes Jesus, the fountain of life.
The term “abundantly” doesn’t just mean to have life in plentiful amounts; it speaks of quality as much as quantity. It’s a superabundant, excessively good, overwhelmingly rich, and superior life.
Jesus did not come to merely restore life to its former state. He came to enhance it, imbue it with heavenly qualities, and make it so complete and accessible that it can only be described as superabundant.
Resurrection Life
This concept of a superabundant life carries with it resurrection potential. Just as Christ rose from the dead, so too can our lives be raised from despair to hope, defeat to victory, death to life. Our circumstances, no matter how dire, have the potential for resurrection. Where there is Christ, there is life, and not just life, but a superabundant one.
“Now, the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” – John 20:1-2 NKJV.
“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. – John 20:11-18 NKJV.
The empty tomb’s narrative, as Mary Magdalene tells, mirrors our journey. She stood weeping outside a tomb that could no longer hold her cause for grief because it was empty. It’s a touching picture of many who stand weeping outside the empty tombs of their lives—past hurts, lost dreams, dead relationships. Yet, in these places where we expect to find death, Christ reveals the superabundance of life. In every heartache, there is a heartbeat of hope; in every end, there is a beginning; in every loss, a gain of something far more significant. Our lives have resurrection potential because the same power that raised Christ from the dead is at work within us.
Resurrection fact
The resurrection is not a mere historical event but a present reality. It is not confined to the pages of Scripture; it is written on the canvas of our lives. We are resurrection people, and our narrative is not one of death but of life—and life in superabundance.
Just as Jesus called Mary by name outside the tomb, He calls each of us. He beckons us to leave behind the grave-clothes of our past and step into the light of a new day. He invites us to discover the pasture of His presence where there is always fullness of joy and pleasures.
In Closing
Remember that resurrection is not just a chapter in the story; it is the narrative itself. Your life, intertwined with the risen Christ, has resurrection potential available. Every day is an opportunity to experience the abundant life He promised—a life that overflows, transforms, and transcends. Above all, the dead shall be raised with Christ in His returning. One day, this life will be over, yet those in Christ will ascend on High, rule and reign for eternity with Him. Welcome to the pasture of His presence and the superabundance of life in Christ.
This blog was inspired by Ps Shaun’s message at Faith Legacy Believers Church on the 31st of March, 2024. You can watch the full message below.