Anchor My Faith

Safety and Pasture

Scripture: John 10:9

In the first two lessons of this section, Jesus describes an illustration about sheep, their shepherd and a sheepfold with a door. In the previous lesson, Jesus described himself as the door of the sheep and pointed out that those who came before him were thieves and robbers. In this lesson we will consider further the idea of Jesus being the door that opens to life, while other doors open to destruction.

Jesus said, ^{Jn 10:9} “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

We return to thoughts about the door, through which every true shepherd must himself enter the fold. A similar concept is found in Matthew 7:13 – 14 ESV: ¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Here we have two gates, or doors, that allow people to pass through to continue their journey. One of the gates is narrow and the way is hard, and few choose it. The other gate is wide, and the way is easy, and many choose to enter through that one, but they will find that it leads to destruction. The narrow gate is Jesus, who has the gift of eternal life, and those who choose that gate receive eternal life.

Another example is found in Romans 5:2 ESV: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Through Jesus as the door, one obtains access by faith. ⁸ “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8 – 9 ESV).

One more example is found in Ephesians 2:18 ESV: “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” “Through him” is through Jesus as the door, we have access to the Father and all that he has for us.

These examples speak of individuals who choose which gate or door to enter through and what credentials are required. But going back to the context of our passage, we find the focus is on shepherds who are qualified to enter the sheepfold and lead out his sheep and care for them. First, there is Jesus as the true shepherd and his flock of sheep who are those who have been born spiritually. Second, his flock is broken down into smaller flocks and assigned to shepherds, like pastors and teachers and caregivers, to care for them. This process takes place throughout the church age.

“If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” The common interpretation is like that drawn from the narrow gate in which we are given eternal life, but in the context of our passage, a sheep enters the sheepfold to be saved from the dangers outside. A striking example of this in found in 1 Corinthians 3:15 where our works are placed in the fire of judgment. “If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” In that fire we may suffer loss, but being in the sheepfold, our salvation is safe.

He “will go in and out and find pasture.” Whether it be the shepherd with his sheep or simply a sheep, there will be free access to the sheepfold and to the pasture outside. The sheepfold is available for protection from dangers like storms that occur outside, but there is freedom to go to the pasture when danger has passed.

Conclusion

It is only through Jesus as the door that we have access to the Father and the kindness of his grace. All other doors or gates are easily accessed, but they lead to eternal destruction.