Anchor My Faith

I Am the Door of the Sheep

Scripture: John 10:7-8

In the previous two lessons, Jesus established an illustration, referred to as a “figure of speech,” which could be easily understood by those living around sheep, which was common at the time of Jesus. In that day everyone would understand the natural meaning of terms related to raising sheep. A difficulty is going to occur, starting in this lesson, when Jesus begins to apply these terms to describe himself. For example: ^{Jn 10:7} “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”’

“Truly, truly,” highlights what is going to be said as important, so listen up and then Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep.” This short sentence has three important parts: “I am,” “the door,” and “the sheep.”

The “I am” identifies Jesus as God, the “I AM” of the Old Testament, especially at the time of Moses. If Jesus were to say, “I am sick,” everyone would understand that he was not feeling well. He would be seen as a person who was describing how he felt. However, in this context, the “I am” does more than identify Jesus as a man, it identifies Jesus as God, but that is not readily seen or accepted by those listening.

When speaking of being a door, we would think of a physical panel that we open and close as we pass from room to room or from going in and out of a building. To those listening to Jesus, in the context of sheep, they understand the door to be the opening to the sheepfold which has a guard to control who enters and leaves. As the people listen they may well wonder how Jesus a man can be that opening through which sheep come and go with their shepherd.

When Jesus connects door and sheep, he is describing that which can pass through the door; it is only sheep and their shepherd as we saw in verse 2. Jesus is, therefore, claiming to be the one who determines that only sheep can come and go and who the sheep are and who can enter the sheepfold. He is the only way by which one can become part of the people of God. This is expressed in Psalm 118:19 – 21 ESV: ¹⁹ “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. ²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. ²¹ I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.” This is another difficult concept for the people to understand.

As the people try to sort this out and gain some understanding, Jesus continues by saying, ^{Jn 10:8} “All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.” Those Jesus is speaking of were possibly those who came as messianic pretenders who promised their followers freedom but instead led them into armed conflict and doom. An example of this is found in Acts 5:37 ESV: “After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.”

“Thieves and robbers” could refer to Israel’s shepherds who have been feeding themselves but not the sheep as seen in Ezekiel 34:2 – 4 ESV: ² “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? ³ You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. ⁴ The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.”

Those who were sheep heard a voice they did not know and “did not listen to them.” Sheep know their true shepherd and follow him. Jesus is the door through which they came in and they know him and follow him to their eternal destination.

Conclusion

Jesus is the door of the sheep; everyone else is a thief and a robber. A true sheep will know the true shepherd and him only will they follow. Are you connected to and following the true shepherd?