The following is an excerpt from The Gospel of John - Savoring the Peace of Jesus in a Chaotic World.

Jesus said He is “the gate” (v. 7, CSB, NIV, NLT; or “the door,” ESV, NKJV). He is the protector of the sheep and keeps the enemy at bay. He is also the only entrance into His sheepfold. And those who enter His flock will be saved and find freedom, protection, and provision. Jesus, the protecting and providing Good Shepherd, stands in contrast to the thief.

While the thief comes “to steal and kill and destroy” (v. 10), Jesus came to give us life. Perhaps your translation of John 10:10 says “life . . . to the full” (NIV), “life . . . in abundance” (CSB), or “a rich and satisfying life” (NLT). The Greek word that describes life in this verse is perissos and means, “exceeding some number or measure or rank or need.” (1) Jesus wasn’t just talking about giving us a better life experience but giving us life from God found in Him.

"He’s not only the Shepherd who leads, He’s the Shepherd who serves, sacrificially. That’s why we can trust His voice."

Melissa Spoelstra

Maybe you feel like your difficulties are exceeding your satisfaction. Jesus didn’t promise overflowing wealth or material possession. Nor did He promise a perfect or easy life. But He did promise life beyond what we can imagine—life filled with joy, purpose, and meaning, more internal satisfaction rather than external affluence. This fits what we’ve learned about savoring peace in our journey through John’s Gospel; it’s more an internal posture, a tranquil state of the soul, than an external state of calm circumstances.

While good shepherds serve their flocks in many ways, John emphasized that Jesus came to lay down His life for His sheep. He’s not only the Shepherd who leads, He’s the Shepherd who serves, sacrificially. That’s why we can trust His voice.

It was a rare occurrence for Palestinian shepherds to die in service of sheep. When they did, it was always by accident. (2) Yet, five times in this account Jesus clearly referenced His sacrificial death (John 10:11,15,17-18).

Sheep know and listen to their master. They need guidance and protection. In the same way, we need the Good Shepherd to lead us. Without Him we are lost.

1. “Perissos,” Bible Study Tools, accessed Oct. 20, 2023. Available at www.biblestudytools.com/ lexicons/greek/nas/perissos.html.

2. Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989), 509.

In this 7-session study on the Gospel of John, Melissa Spoelstra will encourage you to slow down and linger with the living Word. You’ll appreciate the pace of the Savior who never hurried but completed all that the Father called Him to accomplish. As you turn the pages of John’s Gospel, you’ll be challenged to take on the posture of a learner—understanding that the peace Jesus offers is not an ease of circumstances, but a stillness of the soul. As a result, you’ll grow in intimacy with Him and learn to live, serve, and rest in His peace.