I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. – John 10:9
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The previous chapter concludes a great conflict with the religious leaders of the time, regarding Jesus healing a man born blind. The leaders had shown themselves so unhelpful and cruel to the man, his parents, and the common people. Jesus felt it necessary to talk about the contrast between His heart and work as a leader to God’s people and the heart and work of many of the religious leaders of the day.
Jesus used the picture of a shepherd and describes Himself as the Good Shepherd. And in this verse, He further described Himself as the door or gate. Out in the pasturelands for sheep, pens were made with only one entrance. The door for those sheep pens was the shepherd himself. He laid his body across the entrance, to keep the sheep in and to keep the wolves out. The shepherd was, in fact, the door.
Religious leaders gained their place among God’s people through ambition, manipulation, and corruption. While Jesus the true Shepherd comes in the legitimate and designed way: through love, calling, care, and sacrificial service.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us to journey with Him. He walks ahead of us and leads the way, calling us by name. Jesus promises that we will never walk alone. He is like an expert guide who knows the way and the difficulties that lie ahead. He has many new things He wants to teach us as we follow Him, eventually to heaven.
Have you begun your journey to heaven, with this Good Shepherd?
Lord, help me trust you completely as I journey with you, I pray.
Extended Reading – John 9:1-41; John 10:1-21
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This is now one of my favorite blog posts on this subject.
Very actionable advice. I can start applying this right away.