John 10:10 (NKJV)

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Bible Commentary

John 10:10 is a famous Bible verse from the New Testament that teaches us about two very different mission statements—the mission of the devil and the mission of Jesus Christ.

Jesus makes it very clear. Satan lives to steal, kill and destroy. He is a master of deception, so that many times we are not even aware of his destructive forces in our lives.

He tempted Eve with a lie back in the Garden of Eden, telling her she would be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). She wanted to believe it because it sounded good. She wanted to be like God.

Interestingly, that is the very same sin that brought Satan down and got him thrown out of Heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14). The devil knows exactly how to tempt us, reflecting his own evil desires upon us. Everything he is guilty of, he deflects upon man and then when we believe his lies and fall into sin, he accuses us.

Smoke and Mirrors

Jesus said it very well in John 10:10. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. Satan took the ultimate fall. He was one of the highest ranking spirits in Heaven, and then he was not just demoted but kicked out. He was shamed and humiliated.

When Christ went to the cross and died for us and then rose again, defeating death, the power of death was taken away. The devil has no more power—it’s all “smoke and mirrors.”

Christ won the victory over the devil for us. But we must take that victory.

Jesus said in the second part of John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

God gives us the tools we need to fight against the devil’s schemes. We must learn to recognize the lies and deflect them back upon him, putting them back where they belong. That’s what our shield of faith is for.

But how?

Take the Victory

We do this by keeping our minds in the Word of God, praying for spiritual sight, discernment and wisdom. Pray the Word of God back to Him, and stand fast in the truth—believing the promises of God.

We can’t cling to the truth if we don’t know what it is. We can’t believe the promises of God if we don’t know what they are. We must study the Bible so we can overcome the devil with the truth. Jesus said Himself that He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). So study Christ–His words and His life!

John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” If we truly understood the power of the Word of God, we would cling to it, study it, memorize it and carry it with us everywhere.

After a difficult time in Jesus’ ministry when many of His followers had turned away from Him, Jesus asked his disciples if they too wanted to go away. Simon Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

We have the choice.

Are we going to stick by Him or when things get tough, turn away?

Our actions reveal our level of faith. Peter stuck around when many others were leaving. Why? Because he believed Jesus was the Son of God. This is how we take abundant life:

·         Believing it is ours because Jesus said so.

·         Holding firm to the Rock when the storms come and test our faith.

·         Resisting the devil—his lies and temptations.

·         Increasing our faith by staying close to Christ—to the words He spoke.

·         Communing with God more and more.

Jesus didn’t just come to give us life, but abundant life. It is ours for the taking. Study the Bible verse of John 10:10 to know what is yours in Christ.