Roald Dahl is known for his whimsical and creative stories, but none seem to have captured our imagination like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It has inspired two major motion pictures, a musical on Broadway, and, most recently, a spinoff prequel called Wonka.
There is something so appealing about an exclusive invitation—there are only five golden tickets, after all—that makes us dream about being one of the lucky recipients. In the story, we root for Charlie Bucket, who lives in poverty and is pure of heart. In contrast, we are disgusted by the gluttonous August Gloop and spoiled Veronica Salt. Hijinks and mishaps ensue once they step into the chocolate factory, but getting that golden invitation was the first victory.
Unlike the story, receiving an invitation in real life is direct and intentional. Whether it shows up in our inbox or our mailbox, it means someone values our presence and wants our company. Even for introverts, it’s a wonderful feeling to be included.
When we read the gospels, we see that Jesus extends invitations to us, several in fact. There is one particularly attractive invitation that is often quoted from John 10:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
There’s a temptation for Christians to believe that an “abundant” life is a wealthy and healthy one, that when we follow Jesus our lives will be filled with blessings, and any hardship or heartache is a sign of sin or moral failure. Far from promoting a prosperity gospel, we can tell from the larger context of this passage that Jesus is contrasting himself to the religious leaders of Israel.
John 10 opens with three short parables about sheep. In the first, Jesus compares himself to a shepherd whose sheep know his voice. In the second, he compares himself to the gate for the sheep. In the third, Jesus is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10 is embedded within the second parable.
Who is Jesus talking to, and why is making these points? Author and New Testament professor Gary Manning Jr. argues that since there is no natural break between the text in John 9 and John 10, Jesus’ words are a direct response to the Pharisees and their callous treatment of a blind man—one of the sheep.*
John 10:10 is a contrast between the self-serving leaders of Israel versus the life-giving Son of God. And Jesus’ invitation to us is to follow the life-giving Good Shepherd, the Son of God himself.
Nowadays, we may not have Pharisees to follow, but we have plenty of self-serving leaders who promise us our Best Life Now if we just buy their program, sign up for their services, subscribe to their way of life. We may not have 613 Jewish laws to follow, but we have self-proclaimed gurus who tell their millions of followers that the secret to longevity is just to eat more red meat, and we have influencers who promise that true happiness is only found in the homesteading mom-life.
We can run ourselves ragged on the self-help treadmill that leads to nowhere, or we can get still and quiet, listen for the voice of Good Shepherd, and accept God’s invitation to abundant life.
Author and pastor Trevor Hudson writes:
“I have come to see that the central issue of the gospel of Jesus involves the gracious opportunity to become a new kind of person and to enter a new kind of life.”**
This abundant life doesn’t mean we can cherry pick the good parts and bypass any heartache. If Jesus modeled an abundant life for us, we can expect the full gamut of human experience and emotions—from joy and laughter to dread and suffering, from friendship and celebration to work and service, from good food to dusty feet.
The abundant life God offers us takes shape when we align our heart with God’s, when we seek God’s kingdom above our own selfish gain, when we are motivated by our love for God and others. The One who made us knows that our best life is lived in step with God, aware of God’s presence, and guided by God’s Spirit.
And every day, we have a new chance to respond to God’s invitation.
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*From Misinterpreting the Thief at The Good Book Blog.
**From Invitations of Jesus, page 9
Sarah K. Butterfield 