Jesus - I Am The Door
What does Jesus mean when He says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture”? Jesus is actually using language the New Testament people would understand. Jesus often used illustrations in His teaching, and this time He identifies Himself as “the door.” The door to what? The door to the sheepfold, the way to enter the flock. We, the people, are likened to the sheep. And like these woolly creatures, we tend to be needy, fearful, and not very intelligent. We are stubborn, susceptible to disease, and easily downcast. We are in need of a shepherd.
At the end of the day, the flocks would return to their sheepfold and would be closed in by a gate or a door and guarded by a shepherd. Those coming to care for the flock would come through the door. Those coming to harm the flock would usually hop the fence or break through it in some way. The Pharisees tried to convince the people that they could enter the fold of God’s kingdom by a way other than Christ; namely the Law. Jesus says He is the entrance, the way into the flock, the door to God’s kingdom. He does not say “a door” or “one door,” as if there are several options. He is THE DOOR. He is the only way in and out. Those who enter by Him will be saved, and are welcome to come in and go out and find pasture. Not only does Jesus offer us salvation, but we are able to then come in and go out and find pasture. This brings with it an incredible amount of freedom! He doesn’t just keep us “in”, but He actually encourages His people to go out, to experience the life that He gives. Come in to be fed and to find rest. Go out to minister and do life, to find pasture. This conveys an assurance of security and provision. This gives a sense of nurture by the presence of Jesus, not by the walls of the sheepfold.
“When the people of Christ have forgotten this and tried to secure unity or safety by building walls around themselves, the results have not been encouraging. The walls have either been so comprehensive as to enclose a number of wolves along with the sheep (with disastrous consequences) or they have been so restrictive as to exclude more sheep than they enclose.” (F.F. Bruce) Jesus is our security; not the Law, not man-made rules or traditions, not our church affiliation. Only Jesus.
Have you been trying to get into the fold of God by means of something other than The Door? Are you guilty of building walls around yourself or are you experiencing the freedom of going in and out, fully experiencing life and God’s provision?
Jesus is The Door. I invite you to walk through it today with a humble, repentant heart, accepting Christ as your Savior. I promise you will find eternal, abundant fullness of life waiting for you on other side.
