The Shepherd and the Door

Text: John 10:1-18, Psalm 23

He is our shepherd. He leads us.

Well known to most – even unbelievers – is Psalm 23. Christ our Shepherd, meeting our needs, leading us, offering protection; a home.

Let your mind paint and feel this for a moment:

Christ the shepherd. Loving, patient, tender care. Trust. Complete trust in Him. Vulnerability without Him. He is our one source. Our source for everything – safety, food… our very life.

We know Him. We know and trust; trust and know.

Romans 8:16 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” NLT

You know that you know that you know Him; you know way down deep on your spirit-level, in the deepest inmost part. He says we know Him and know His voice.

John 10:4 “After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.” NLT emphasis mine

I find it interesting as we read John 10 that Jesus takes both the role of Shepherd and the Door to the Sheepfold. We briefly looked at Him as the Shepherd; now let us take a moment at the Door.

We see Christ in His entire earthly ministry, doing just that – ministering on earth; teaching on earth to people, humans on earth. You see Him stoop, patiently explaining in earth-terms with earth-imagery in the hope that we’ll get it.

I know you’ve heard someone trying to explain something, and when their audience is not getting it, they will impatiently throw their hands up and exclaim, “Do you need me to draw you a picture?”

Well that is what Christ does continually – minus the impatience. He knows our weak minds, and what it takes to reach them.

Psalm 103:14 “For he knows how weak we are;    he remembers we are only dust.”

And so He draws us a picture.

And He says, “I am the Door.” And He is.

John 14:6 “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” NLT

He tells us all others are thieves and robbers. All others. The others all entered in by another way – trying to climb up some other way, climbing up over the wall. (10:1)

I see several applications here. One being that they are trying to bypass the Shepherd.

But if we don’t – if we go through the Door, and not around it, we shall be saved. Accepted into the Sheepfold.

John 10:9 “Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.[b] They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” NLT

Those thieves bring nothing but destruction. So following them ends in death.

John 10:10a “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy…” NLT

Proverbs 14:12 & Proverbs 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” NKJV

Romans 8:6 “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” NLT

Romans 8:13 “For if you live by its (your sinful nature) dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” NLT

Freely enter through the Door.

And most importantly remember, our Good Shepherd, who knows us, died in order that we might enter. That we might live.

Let that sink in.

He knows us.

And He still died for us.

What more can I say?

Do you feel as sheepish as I do right now? (Pun sortof not intended.)

He knows us. Are we making an effort to know Him? To know truth?
Let’s be diligent today and always, to study His truth and know it from the depths of our spirit.

“All the heart really knows is what the heart knows by heart.” – Ann Voskamp

Let’s memorize together, shall we?

As I write this, I’m working on Romans 8, and will do 12 after that, but let’s do some together! I am open to suggestions.

Would you like to join me in Romans, or should we select another passage?

Please share your input in the comments, or on our Facebook page.