.jpg "stone building with doorway")
In John’s gospel, Jesus refers to
Himself using seven I AM statements. So far, we’ve met Him as the Bread of Life,
Living Water, Light of the World and today, we meet Jesus as the Door.
In John chapter ten, Jesus tells
the crowd about the enemy of the sheep who breaks in by hopping over the wall
to enter the sheepfold rather than using the door. He is the enemy who steals
and kills like a thief.
.jpg "Sheep grazing")
Shepherds spent most of the time
with their sheep out on hillsides and when evening came, gathered the sheep
into a walled off area called a sheepfold for protection. The trouble with
these makeshift corrals is they had no door.
So, the shepherd would get all the
sheep accounted for and then lie in the doorway of the sheepfold so nothing
could get in and harm them.
Jesus says to the crowd, “I AM the Door”—the
only way into the sheepfold. The one who fills the doorway to protect my sheep. John 10:9 says, He is the door and all who enter
through Him will be saved. They will come
in and go out. In Jewish terms this meant they would experience peace and safety.
This concept of security and protection is something they would have understood.
The image of a door‘s protection
was familiar to Jesus’ audience. It reminded them of the blood of the lamb
painted on the top and sides of the door frame. It spoke of the first Passover
when the blood on the entrance of their homes saved them when the Angel of
Death swept through Egypt during the tenth plague. Every first born was killed.
The blood of the lamb covered their door frames, so the angel of death passed
over them.
Jesus is that Lamb, slain to save
us from death. He is the door we must enter to gain eternal life. He is the one
who conquered death for us on the cross.
Jesus as the Door also reminds us
there are many false prophets who proclaim they are the way to salvation. They
stop at nothing to dupe people into believing in another way to attain Heaven.
But as the true Shepherd, the one who laid down His life for the sheep, He is
the only door.
Join me next time as we meet Jesus
as the Shepherd of the sheep…
Until then, how have you encountered
Jesus as the Door? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Jeanne
Tweetables:
Jesus says, “I AM the Door”—the only way into the sheepfold
How have you encountered Jesus as the Door?
Resources to discover more about the Shepherd and His sheep:
Tweetables:
Jesus says, “I AM the Door”—the only way into the sheepfold
How have you encountered Jesus as the Door?
Resources to discover more about the Shepherd and His sheep:
Images courtesy of Morguefile.com
So meaningful, Jeanne. I learned about this when I was writing my Bible study, Storms of Life. It's so comforting to know that Jesus guards me.
ReplyDeleteI love this too, Sherry. I have experienced His protection and often think of the little nudges I have felt from the Spirit, not to do something, go somewhere. That was my Jesus being the door for me.
ReplyDeleteI love the image of Jesus as a door to protect us. Like a momma protects her babies, how much greater does he guard us! I am so thankful for those prompts and nudges to either act or pray, to go or stay, to speak or remain silent. Thank you Jeanne for this great reminder! Melissa Longval
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Melissa. He is our rear guard for sure. He is the cloud the covers us the same way it covered the Israelites when they faced the Red Sea.
ReplyDeleteHe is the door that everything must pass through to reach us. Powerful image!
Jeanne, I didn't know about the shepherd lying in the doorway at night to protect the sheep. What a lovely detail! These little bits of information enrich our appreciation of the Word and His message so much more. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts, Barbara. What an awesome Shepherd who guards the door for us. Our protector for sure.
ReplyDelete