Wake up call: True Life

This morning, I was awaken by the answer of a question that has long ago been occurred in my heart.

Sometimes, this happened, when I have a good sleep at night, and wake up by thoughts about God. But of course, it's not something that happened to me everyday so far. And this morning, not only I am awaken by this wonderful thought, but also it awakened the "sleep from blogging" in me all this time :P

It's funny how the train of thoughts can really bring you to. But if this is how the Holy Spirit is teaching me, surely I have no complaint but thanksgiving for His wonderful teaching.

I was awaken by the thoughts about Mary and Martha in the first place. For you who want to know their stories which I was reminded about, kindly refer to Luke 10: 38-42. There, our Lord Jesus made a comment about Mary, who had chosen one thing that is needed, in comparison to Martha who was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. This very choice, which was demonstrated by Mary's sitting at the Lord's feet listening to what He said, was commented by Jesus as something that is better and will not be taken away from her.

Then it occurred to me that what Jesus meant is about life. True life that comes from Jesus alone. I was amazed to find out that Apostle John made it so clear in the gospel he wrote. Oh, I wake up and read the Book of John to search for all the passages that mention life, and there are so many that he wrote, with such understanding that comes from a man that has known the life himself. He started in the beginning of his book with:

"In Him was life, and that life was the light of men."- John 1:4 (NIV)

and it continues...

"...that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." - John 3:15 (NIV)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. " - John 3:16 (NIV)

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." - John 3:36 (NIV)

"...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." - John 4:14 (NIV)

and so much more. I realized that I can't paste it all here. I invite you to go and seek for yourself in the book of John. It doesn't matter which version of translation you are using. I am using NIV here, but you can search other version (KJV, NASB, ESV, etc.).

The verse that I think describe Mary's choice best is:
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." - John 5:24 (NIV)

The verse that explained the source of life is:
"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself." - John 5:26 (NIV)

And this is the very rebuke, which Jesus said to the Jews of His days, but may apply to us as well:
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." - John 5:39-40 (NIV)

Jesus even describe Himself as the Bread of Life in John 6, to explain this further.There are passages over passages which describe about Jesus as life Himself, more than the verses that I paste in this posting.

And for this particular verse, which was my initial question in the beginning, which becomes clearer and clearer for me.

"...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10b (NIV)

I realized that maybe this verse is one of the verses that is most often quoted yet most often misunderstood regarding the meaning. I have heard some of the interpretation of this verse, but my heart keep on questioning, what is it that You mean, Lord?

Some described the life here as life after death, which equates the salvation of mankind, as the result of Christ's death and resurrection. Others described it as life that has been redeemed, that once we are in Christ, we are new creations, continually renew in holiness and service to God. Some others even describe it as all the good things God give to His children, the blessings of life that fulfill the needs of the men, such as healing, wealth, etc. All of these interpretation are to some point explain what we got in Him; yes, we have assurance of salvation, and yes, our life is redeemed and therefore we grow in holiness, and yes, we have a Father in heaven who is care for us and supply all our needs. However, these are not what this verse mean.

Life that is mentioned here is refer to Jesus Himself. He IS our life. And only in HIM we can truly have life to the full. Referring back to all that John has written about life in previous passages, we know that Jesus' message is that He Himself is the life for humankind.The everlasting life Himself. And this particular message is carried out until the end of Book of John.

This is the most clear verse regarding the eternal life that Jesus has promised:
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent." - John 17:3 (NIV)

And even Apostle John himself testified the reason of his writing the Gospel of John, that is:
"But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." - John 20:31 (NIV)

As a closing, I want to quote another popular verse, which I hope, through all of the explanation above, may give a deeper understanding to you, when you read:
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6 (NIV)

Indeed, Jesus Himself is the life. Do you have this life?

Father God, thank You for showing me the meaning of the truth in Your word. Indeed, You are good and Your mercies endures forever. You give understanding to those who seek You. Let this truth inscribed in my heart so that Your truth become flesh in my life. Thank You for giving us life Himself. In the name of life Himself, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.