John 10:7
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”.
John 10:9
” I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”
The sheep pen:
Imagine a sheep pen. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the door, you know he’s up to no good – he’s a sheep thief! The true shepherd of the sheep walks right up to the door. The doorkeeper opens the door to him and the sheep recognise his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out to fresh grass and water. When he gets them all out, he leads the sheep and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They wouldn’t follow a stranger’s voice. Instead, they would scatter because they’re not used to the sound of it. (John 10:1-5)
Why did Jesus use the imagery of sheep? Reading this will tell you why and will help you to understand this claim better. (link “this” to claim 6)
Jesus told this simple story, but what was he was talking about? The door for the sheep represents Jesus. Anyone else who claims ownership of the sheep is up to no good – they are sheep stealers, every one of them. The sheep shouldn’t and don’t listen to them. But Jesus is the door. Anyone who goes through Him will be cared for. They can freely go in and out – they’re free from the shackles of guilt and shame. They will find fresh nourishing pasture. A thief is only there to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus is there so the sheep can have real and eternal life. A better life than they ever dreamed of. (John 10:6-10)
The true DOOR:
Jesus did not say that He is a door but that He is the door. Choosing to accept Jesus will make you one of His sheep. You can only enjoy the nourishing pastures of heaven and experience eternal life in abundance if you follow Jesus’s voice. There is no other way, no other door. With this statement, Jesus emphasises that there is no eternal fulfilling life without Him, and eternal life can only be found through Him. Why did Jesus make this statement? So we can see that we should not be placing our trust in anyone but Jesus. Take religious leaders for example. Although they may reach out to and care for us, they are not the door to salvation. Even the purest of all religious leaders can never give you salvation. Only by placing your full trust in Jesus and believing in Him will you find salvation.
The dangers Jesus warns us about: the false door & the false voice:
Jesus warns that the world is full of predators (Matthew 7:15). There will be false teachers/leaders who claim to know the way to heaven. They are like ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing, who will only rip the sheep to shreds. It is important to always keep your eyes set on the shepherd (Jesus), because only by following Him can you find the heavenly pasture.
Those who do not find the true door find themselves trapped in a life without purpose. They are unable to be led to the heavenly pasture. Finding Jesus and inviting Him into your heart is like finding a door after being trapped in a hopeless life for so long.
Jesus knows that there are many other apparent doors and apparent shepherds around, but those are all facades and thieves. Through them, you find nothing but desolation and lies. Through Jesus – the true door – you will receive abundant life and can rest knowing that you are in God’s safe hands till the end of time.
