Who is Jesus? This is the most important question anyone will ever answer. Where you spend eternity depends on your answer to this question and you cannot afford to get that answer wrong.
When faced with a similar question, the disciples told Jesus that others thought he was one of the prophets, but Peter got the answer right: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). Jesus said that Peter was blessed because his answer came not from speculation, but through revelation (Matthew 16:17).
Jesus continues this revelation of His identity and character in John 10:7,9.
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
This revelation parallels God’s introduction to Moses in Exodus 13:14: “I am who I am.” Jesus’ “I am…” statement identifies Him as God. However, unlike the “I am…” of Exodus, when God emphasized His divinity, Jesus’ “I am…” emphasized His humanity. Jesus’ “I am…” was understandable and relatable. You may not know what an “I am” is, but you probably understand what a “door” and “sheep” are.
What does it mean to be the Door of the Sheep? In this metaphor, Jesus is the Door, those who trust Him as Lord are the sheep, and our pasture is God’s best life for us. Let’s look at these in more detail.
You must enter through the Door. If you see another way in, it’s an illusion and will only lead to loss, death, and destruction. The Door is the only way to get into pasture.
Not only is the Door an entry point, It also protects whatever has already entered into the pasture. If a sheep is outside and in danger, the Door lets it in. If a sheep tries to wander out, the Door keeps it in. Anything coming in has to get through the Door to get into the pasture. The Door keeps danger out and the sheep safe.
Once we have entered through the Door, we can go in (God’s Kingdom) and out (this world) and find pasture. Pasture is a condition, not a location. Pasture is a Psalm 23 kind of life with:
The presence of God (The Lord is my shepherd;)
Fulfillment and provision (I shall not want.)
Rest and peace (He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.)
Restoration and righteousness (He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.)
Courage and comfort (Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.)
Protection and anointing (You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;)
Excess (My cup runs over.)
Goodness and mercy (Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;)
Eternal life (And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.)
The good life God wants for us doesn’t begin in heaven. After we come through the Door, we can enjoy God’s best “on earth as it is in heaven.”
We see the pattern of God’s chosen people entering through the Door and finding pasture while the Door protects them from judgment repeatedly in Scripture.
Noah and his family entered the door of the ark, God closed the door behind them, the door protected those inside of it from the flood, and they enjoyed pasture in the newness of creation (Genesis 7).
Lot entered the door of his home (with help from the angels), the angels shut the door, and Lot and his daughters inside the door were protected from the fiery judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19).
The Israelites entered the doors of their homes, sealed themselves in with the blood of the lamb, “the Lord [passed] over the door,” and their firstborn sons were protected (Exodus 12).
Finally, the Angel of God (Jesus) closed behind the Israelites (like a door), they entered in between two walls of water, they were protected from the Egyptians and the Red Sea, and found pasture in the Promised Land on the other side (Exodus 14).
Let Jesus protect you from judgment and enjoy the great life He has planned for you. Jesus, the Door of the Sheep, is open and wants you to enter today!
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