The Door

John 10:1-9

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 

Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved! and will go in and out and find pasture."


I am thrilled with God's timing. Psalm 23 has been on my heart lately. I'm reading a book called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. I also recently watched (and transcribed) a short message by a Jewish believer in Jerusalem about shepherds and sheep (and Psalm 23). And I was amazed that it all came together as I am delving into John 10. But then I'm amazed about a lot of things God does!

Jesus tells all of us that He is the Door. He is the way, truth and life and no one comes to the Father but by Him. We are told to enter by the narrow gate, that Jesus is the only way. We can look at it this way...

We have the world. Within the world there is a sheepfold. Within that sheepfold are those who have a good shepherd to guide them. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. If we believe and receive Him we have entered that sheepfold. We know His voice over all the false voices in the world. We follow Him over all the others claiming they have the keys to success, prosperity and happiness. We trust in Him.

Listen to the Jewish believer's account regarding the door: If the entrance to the cave was wide, the question arises, how did a shepherd protect the opening? They gathered stones to fill in the opening and leave one small opening to allow the sheep to go in and out. The good shepherd would lead the flock by day to secure water and pasture, and at night stand at the entrance to the cave holding his staff and one by one count the sheep as they entered. He must, of course, have known they were his sheep. He must recognize his own flock. So he counted them. And since there is no door to speak of; he is the door. John 10:7 - I am the door of the sheep. 

There are those, however, who do not understand this. They do not understand the things Jesus speaks. And Jesus tells us...very truly, very assuredly, very honestly...that He is the door. He is the protector, success in His realm is greater than success in the world. His prosperity far outweighs worldly prosperity. And He offers happiness we cannot understand until we receive Him. Add to that the peace that passes all understanding. All things eternal are given us when we receive Christ. All He has to offer, including eternal life, green pastures, living water, He offers to us if we come to Him.

Unlike the game show which displays three doors one can open, in this world there are only two...one is a good door, the other is not. There is only one winning door.

Psalm 23:1-3 - The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul...