© 13 Colin Melbourne
John 10:1-18 KJV;
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 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 cometh 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.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Abundant Life from God
In this banquet of words that proceeded from the mouth of God, notice verse 10:10b KJV;
I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
It’s a powerful scripture that draws sinners to Christ. It drew me as I heard it spoken in the Holy Ghost when still in my sins.
It gently exposes the spiritual vacuum in the lost, making them curious, and hungry for life.
The Holy Bible teaches that those without Christ have existence, but no life, meaning, or purpose.
Tense Details
The King James Bible (KJV) correctly uses “I am come“, rather than the brute mistranslation found in modern Bibles, “I have come”.
The Greek for “I am come” employs the form used only to denote the present and imperfect verb tenses.
The imperfect tense signifies; a past action in progress, but not completed at the time.
His phrase “I am come” fits both present and imperfect tenses.
Because; He has come, and He is coming now, and will come in the future.
Meditate on that glorious Bible truth.
Why He Came
Oh the richness and depth of significance with which He nourishes us!
I AM come…
Almighty God came in the Flesh; humbled Himself in the form of Man, born under God’s Law.
He fulfilled the Law, and sealed the new covenant of Grace, with His Blood.
And He will come again in Glory both to; raise up His Body of believers, and to judge the world.
God Revealing His Word
Truly His words are Spirit, and they are life.
Every word of Christ is perfectly divine.
No mere man could have composed such phrases.
For example; John, whom the LORD used to compile this Gospel, did not comprehend the Second Coming of Christ, of which John’s understanding could only have been sketchy at the time of writing his Gospel.
That revelation was given to the Apostle Paul, and spelled out in his Epistles many years later. Ask the Lord to give it to you as you read them in the Holy Ghost.
Yet, here, in the scriptures John delivered, we find that the Greek tenses fit perfectly with the revelation subsequently opened to Paul.
They slot together seamlessly encompassing the prophecies.
I am come…
Who said that?
More than a Nazareth Carpenter, more than a Prophet.
I am come: God in the Flesh has come.
Consider the tenses… present tense and (imperfect tense) a past action in progress, but not completed at the time of the statement.
Not only did He come to Judea, but God’s Word comes to you today wherever you are.
Not only to sinners seeking life, but also to the saints of God walking in His Spirit; He’s come to give us more of His life than we are enjoying now.
That is God’s plan for all His children; ever increasing life, faith, and love.
How much do you want?
How much can you take?
How much life can you give? 1 Jn. 5:10-12 KJV;
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
Receive Him: Let His Spirit; save, fill, and lead you into His abundantly overflowing Life!
Smith Wigglesworth remains England’s most anointed Evangelist. Spectacular healings followed his preaching, prompting the Devil to agitate criticism, but Smith knew how to remain under the Anointing, by loving his enemies. All Smith’s critics have perished, Wigglesworth’s ministry continues today through books of his sermons such as this classic, Ever Increasing Faith. If you want more of God, this book will feed you.
© 13 Colin Melbourne