“Do you have any spicy, peri-peri sauce?” That’s my standard question when we eat anywhere. I love peri sauce. Once you have tasted it, food without spicy peri sauce will never again be acceptable. And so I couldn’t miss noticing in my favourite Bible verse, the unrelated, but similar sounding Greek word, “perissos”. It means “super-abundant” or “superior” or “beyond good”. Just like what peri sauce does to food. Jesus uses this word when he makes the most amazing promise. “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.” (John 10:10). Jesus is offering you, today, regardless of what your life is like, a perissos – super abundant, beyond good life. It may seem impossible, yet Jesus wants to give you a taste of the life of the eternal, today. He wants you to experience his peace even in fear – his joy despite loss – his love regardless of hurt. Life will always have challenges and pain and loss and hurt. However, if we accept this incredible offer from Jesus we will experience a life beyond good. So much so that once you’ve tasted it, life without Jesus’ perissos will never again be acceptable.
