Abundantly!

perissos...

That's the transliterated version of the Greek word found in John 10:10 that we translate as "abundantly."

Perissos. That word means, "more, greater, excessive, abundant, exceedingly, vehemently."

Or, perhaps we might say over and above OR more than is necessary OR superadded...

Don't you find great encouragement in John 10:10? I do!

Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10 ESV)

See it? It declares the intentions of the enemy of man and the intentions of the Lover of our souls.

If you'd allow me a paraphrase of the latter part of the verse, I'd say it could sound something like this: "I came in order that my followers might have a constant stream of life and that they have it continuously all around."

It's the promise of an uncommon life to those who walk with the Master.

English translators choose "abundantly" from the Greek, "perissos." "Abundantly" has its own very interesting etymology. It comes from the Latin "ab," meaning "away," and "unda," meaning "wave." It carries the idea of overflow! It carries the idea of a river, out of the banks, flowing strong and steady.

Here's what's on my mind... Jesus is the source of the overflow. That's simple. I won't have the overflow without the source!

Not only is Jesus the source, He is also the fulfilling presence and power for a full life. Perhaps Victor Hugo tapped into this idea in "Les Misérables" when he said, "To die is nothing; but it is terrible not to live." See, what Jesus is offering is FULL LIFE!

As the source, and the fulfilling power, what Jesus promises is overflow! Jesus calls us to the much more, far more, more better, more remarkable, surpassing, superadded, superfluous Life that IS Him.

YEAH! Praise God! Amen! I will take some of that perissos life!