Trusting the Good Shepherd Series – I AM The Door – John 10:9
In previous posts, we saw that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, cares for the one lost sheep. Jesus tells his listeners in John 10:9, I AM the Door for the sheep.
Needing Someone to Follow
Driving on the opposite side of the road is nerve-wracking, but my husband, John mastered it well after nearly taking out a post box and boxy shrubs. We were traveling through Wales to see a historic castle ruin.
Toodling along the narrow country road, we entered a small town and encountered a traffic jam. People were milling about, drivers outside their vehicles, and even the driver of a milk truck passing milk bottles to fellow travelers hinted that it had been jammed for a while. A few cars ahead, a wiry man motioned to us, asking if we noo the way ’round. He gave us a wave to follow him as he banged-a-uey. He took a sharp right onto a path going up the hillside.
It was evident he was familiar with this shortcut. We kept up as best we could as the bushes swiped the side of our rental. Up, up we went, crossing over gated lanes that were surely for sheep crossings. We eventually lumbered out onto the road on the other side of the traffic jam, as he tooted his horn and gave us a wave, clearly pleased with himself for his good deed for the day.
This is one of our most treasured travel memories and a story I often share because we needed someone to follow who knew where they were going.
Don’t we all!?
Jesus said, I AM The DOOR
Jesus shares this as part of His Good Shepherd parable in John 10, and points to our need for Him, the one who knows the way.
Jesus is speaking to spiritual leadership and the gathering crowd. He paints a picture with His words, calling Himself the Door (some translations say gate) using God’s Identity, I AM. In His parables, Jesus illustrates his story with a familiar context.
This Jewish culture was familiar with navigating the gates of the Temple. Each gate had a specific purpose. Only certain people entered, and particular transactions took place.
Also, as nomadic people, they were familiar with shepherding and the care of sheep in the field. After grazing during the day, the shepherd led them back to the sheepfold for the night. This was a three-sided structure with 3-foot stone walls and an opening without a door at one end. The shepherd would sit across the doorway to protect the sheep.
Jesus is telling the Jewish leadership that they cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven through other means like works, sacrifice, or keeping the law.
So, How Do We Access God?
Consider, for a moment, in the Old Testament, when Moses went up to the mountain to receive the law from God. The people were told not to approach or climb the mountain for fear of death. What began as perfect communion with God in the Garden of Eden was broken. Sin separated the relationship, and access to God became complicated, because sin cannot stand in the presence of Holiness without consequence.
Suddenly, forgiveness was only possible through offerings and blood sacrifice.
There were strict rules of how to approach God, and only the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies once a year to atone for both his own and the people’s sins through the shedding of a spotless lamb’s blood. The high priest must prepare himself by …abstaining, washing, dressing in priestly garments, with many dos and don’ts.
But Jesus came to make a way – to restore the broken relationship.
Jesus came to make a way - to restore the broken relationship. #IAMtheDOOR Share on X
Jesus is the Way – the Door
Jesus is the Door – our access to God and how we enter eternity.
This reminds me of when the Israelites were called out from slavery in Egypt. They were told to go into their homes and apply the blood of the passover lamb on the top and sides of the doorway. They were warned not to go out until morning. That night, God brought about the tenth plague on the Egyptians who enslaved them. Every firstborn in Egypt was killed that night from the Pharaoh’s house to the animals in the barn. But those who trusted God to keep them safe and had applied the blood over their door were protected. Even their firstborns were kept safe.
Jesus is that door.
This is a foreshadowing of all that was accomplished in Christ.
Jesus Is The Lamb of God
As we recently celebrated the Easter and Passover season, we envision Jesus entering Jerusalem at the beginning of Holy Week, riding on a donkey. The crowds are waving palms and crying Hosanna to the King. Jesus entered Jerusalem by the sheep gate, where the lambs for sacrifice were brought in and inspected by the priests to be ready for sacrifice.
Jesus offered himself, the sinless and perfect lamb of God, to take away the sin of the whole world. He submitted to the will of His Father to lay down His life, just as He described the Good Shepherd does for the sheep. And on that cross, Jesus won the ancient battle with sin and death. And in John 19:30, Jesus’ last words from the cross were, It Is Finished!
When we believe Jesus is our savior and receive His forgiveness, His blood shed on the cross is applied to cover our sins.
Jesus, the Door Gives Us Access to God
In John 14:3, Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you…
Think about that for a moment…Heaven has been there since the beginning. God is eternally on His throne. When Jesus made this statement, he meant that His death and resurrection would open the door for us to access God’s presence and to restore the relationship.
If you recall when Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple was torn in two, showing the access we now have to the Father. Jesus, did that for you and me.
Hebrews 10:19 says “We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus.”
What Jesus is saying is, I am the Door to eternal life and salvation. Not a door. The Door.
What Jesus is saying is, #IAmTheDoor to eternal life and salvation. Not a door. The Door. #TrustingTheGoodShepherd Share on X
It’s important to know, there is no other way in, whether by being a good person, or keeping all the rules, or following another shepherd-wanna-be.
Jesus says, Come, Follow Me
When Jesus encounters people in Scripture, we hear Him say, Follow Me.
Psalm 23:3 says, He leads me in paths of righteousness… The word path means tracks, literally like footprints or wagon wheel tracks that are laid out ahead of us. The path of right living, wise choices, and faith as we follow the Good Shepherd. It is a path prepared for us because of what Jesus has done for us.
In our own wisdom, we cannot find the way, like when John and I were in Wales. We need someone to follow, and Jesus promises that for us.
Follow Jesus, the Door, and the Good Shepherd?
Maybe you have known Jesus for a long time, but want to go deeper in knowing Him as your Good Shepherd who will protect, provide, lead, and love you. Your faith journey is ongoing. Day by day, you learn to trust Him more. Through our trials and joys, we see He is faithful. He sees you. He knows you. And will continue to lead until He calls you home.
Maybe you know about God, but hearing that God wants a relationship with you is a new concept. He is simply asking you to follow Him. Forgiveness is there for you through what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He laid down His life to pay your debt so you can be restored. You can have peace and the hope of eternal life with Him. You can’t earn it; His grace is a free gift for all who believe.
G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.
Jesus came to show us the way home. He is our Good Shepherd and the door of the sheep. His Holy Spirit lives within us so that we are never alone. Never lost. Never powerless. It is like having GPS, God’s Positioning System. We are restored to a right relationship through Jesus.
We are restored to a right relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus said, #IAMTheDoor Share on X
We can trust the Good Shepherd. For the way to go. For forgiveness. Grace. Mercy. And, for the gift of faith to believe. We can trust Him with our prodigals. And even more, we can trust the path He has prepared to find our way home, because He is the Door—The Way to Heaven and abundant life here.
Taking A Step Closer
How can you follow Jesus more closely during this season of life and circumstances?
How might your relationship be made stronger?
How has Jesus been your Good Shepherd?
Have you been trying to access God using other doors? How can you change that today?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
You are His Beloved,
Jeanne
Previous posts in the Trusting the Good Shepherd Series:
Lost and Found – Where’s My Sheep?
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So many today try to access God thru the door of works and false religion. The world needs to be reminded of Jesus’s words that He is the ONLY door. I pray those who need to hear these words are directed to this post.
Thank you, Barbara. That’s my prayer too. It is too important to know for sure where our eternity lies.
An interesting question, what kind of door are we trying to enter into? In our society we often set up “doors” that require us to meet certain expectations or conform to certain standards to be accepted or to gain access. People spend years trying to get past certain “doors” to achieve success or find happiness. Sometimes, people are denied entering in through certain “doors” based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc. Likewise in the church, access through certain doors is denied if the person doesn’t have the same theology or is from a different denomination. However, Jesus is the “Door” that offers access to anyone who recognizes their sinfulness, repents, and chooses to follow Him. There is no outward requirement of perfection or certain expectations to perform. The gift that we receive in entering into the kingdom through Jesus is eternal life. That is the best “door” to walk through!
Well said, Sheree. In our human-ness, we try to make it be about a checklist of goodness. And we want others to conform to our list because it validates our opinions. But when we can simmer it down to who Jesus says He is…What the inspired Word of God says…the way the truth and the life. The access door to the Father, we become Jesus-centered. Simple faith. Simple belief. One LORD.
A great teaching, Jeanne. I often speak of JESUS as my savior, I’ve not often called HIM “The Door.” BUT HE is the/our door. Thank you
Janice, DOOR is such an inanimate object, so yes, pretty difficult to imagine Jesus as a door…especially because we have such negative impressions of doors in our lives. We often don’t remember the open doors, only those that slammed shut. But, this teaching gives a clear view of Jesus as not only our protector and provider (as the shepherd with his sheep), but also the way, the access, and the provision He has made because of His death and resurrection. We now have access to the throne of God’s grace and eternal life. Lots to ponder.
I have a new image of Jesus after reading this. The door to abundant life. I love it. Jesus stands at the door and knocks. We have only to open it.
I appreciate your thoughts today, Candyce. So glad this spoke to your heart. Thank you for letting me know–you have encouraged me