"I am the Door"

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:7–10)

It is hard to imagine today, but there once was a time when people never locked their doors. Now we lock our doors at all hours of the day and night, we make sure the doors are locked before we go to bed, when we leave our vehicles, we make sure our doors are locked, and might check throughout the day or night to make sure the doors haven’t unlocked themselves and everything is still safe. Why have we become obsessed with locking doors? We lock our doors because we fear what others may be intending to do. Jesus uses the illustration of a door (John 10:1-10), and states “I am the door” but why would Jesus use this as an illustration and what significance, if any, is there to Jesus being a door?

Before we look at the significance of this statement, let’s notice some background information. First, we notice in this illustration that Jesus is speaking of a sheepfold, shepherds, and doors. Shepherds, in the Jewish mind, was considered to be a leader, whether spiritual or political. The Pharisees thought of themselves as being the shepherds of Israel and thought of themselves as having the authority. When Jesus was taken before the governing officials to be tried and crucified, the Pharisees and scribes had already tried Him, found Him guilty, and delivered Him to the governing officials, The Pharisees had assumed the role of authority among Israel and Jesus in this discourse, challenges their authority. Next there is the illustration of sheep. This is a common illustration that is used throughout the Bible. It has been said that sheep are very difficult to manage and require tedious care from the shepherd. Without the care of the shepherd the sheep will separate themselves from the fold, they will be in danger of predators, but with the shepherd’s care the sheep are able to dwell safely and securely in the fold. It is no surprise that people are often said to be the sheep, and as we understand the care the Good Shepherd can provide, we understand why this illustration is used. Then there is the door. When we read of the door of the sheepfold (John 10:1) we imagine what we commonly call a door, but the door of a sheepfold is not what we might imagine. The sheepfold was usually an enclosure made of rocks, with an opening for the door. The shepherd (or porter) would guard the flock at night by laying across the opening. It was not unusual for several flocks to be sheltered together in the same fold. In the morning, the shepherds would come, call their sheep, and assemble their own flocks. Each sheep recognized its master’s voice and would follow the shepherd.

This statement that Jesus makes, stating He is the door, is made to show His authority. Although the Pharisees thought of themselves as being the authority, Jesus is making this statement to prove His deity and authority. The Old Law and the ordinances found within would soon be taken out of the way, being nailed to the cross of Christ (Col. 2:14-15), and Jesus would establish the New Covenant through the shedding of His blood for our redemption (Matt. 26:28). Jesus was sent by the Father in heaven to “seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), and just like the shepherd that would leave the ninety-nine to find the one that was lost, Jesus left the pleasures of heaven to save mankind which was lost in sin (Phil. 2:5-11). Now that Jesus has come, has remained without sin (1 Peter 2:22), and has offered Himself on our behalf, man has a way of entering the sheepfold of God, be made the children of God (1 John 3:1), have our sins washed away in baptism (Acts 22:16), and be reconciled to God, being justified, and having peace with God (Rom. 5:1-2).

Jesus is the door! The only possible way of entering the fold of God is through Him (John 14:6). Anyone desiring to enter the fold of God must enter through the Door, and those that attempt to do so any other way is a thief and a robber. Sadly, there are many that will not enter in the prescribed manner, and many that will deny the authoritative commands of Jesus, but Jesus has made it abundantly clear that there is only one way to enter the fold. Jesus is the way, and we must follow His commands (Matt. 28:19). If we desire to be in the fold, we must obey His commands and follow Him daily (Mark 16:15; Luke 9:23). Anyone that attempts to follow Him any other way than the way He commands will find out they are not a part of the fold and will be separated from the fold, like a shepherd divides sheep from goats, and sadly will be told to depart from Him (Matt. 7:21-23, Matt. 25:32). There are dangers in this world that will cause one to be separated from God eternally (1 John 2:15-17), and Satan desires to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus provides protection in His fold, and has come that all might have life through Him (John 10:10). When we enter through the Door, we can be a part of His fold, and receive the care of the Shepherd.