I Am The Gate
John 10:1-10
Last week we looked at the statement of Jesus referring to
himself as the good shepherd. He said
this after making another statement involving sheep. In the beginning of chapter 10 he says “I am the gate” If you
look back at the last chapter, you see that the Pharisees threw the blind man
Jesus had healed out of the temple because he believed in Jesus. Jesus is addressing the Pharisees here. These religious leaders should KNOW who he
is by what he has told them. He lets
them and others know that anyone who claims a way to God other than through him
is like a thief in the pen. The sheep
know the voice of the shepherd. But the
people didn’t catch on so he tries again from another angle. Using the sheep pen illustration, he builds
on it by saying “I am the gate”.
This morning we are going to look at what it means to us
today when we read the words of Jesus, “I am the gate and anyone who enters
through me will be saved”.
PRAYER
I.
Understanding the context
A.
Meaning of the gate example
1.
Few people in the western world can picture accurately the
Palestinian sheepfold. When out in the
wilderness, several shepherds would build a low circular enclosure, on one side
of which is an opening about 6 feet wide-the only place where entrance can be
gained without climbing over the wall.
There is no door that can be closed.
At nightfall the shepherd will stand in this breach and call his sheep,
counting one by one until all are safely within the shelter. Then, with his
staff by his side, he lies down in the doorway and sleeps with his body across
the opening.
2.
The door, therefore, is not an ordinary one of wood or iron,
but is actually a LIVING PERSON! For
the intruder to reach the sheep, he must first pass over the body of the
watchful shepherd. Jesus used this
figure of such an enclosure when He said, "I AM THE gate; by me if any man
enter in, he shall be saved
3.
In the morning, each shepherd would call out his own sheep and
head back to the pasture. The sheep
knew the voice of the shepherd and would only follow him. A thief would have to sneak in and steal a
sheep.
4.
Now you can understand what Jesus meant when he said in vs. 8
READ
B.
Now you can begin to imagine why the Pharisees hated him so
much. He was a threat to their power
base.
1.
He is saying he is the true shepherd of Israel.
2.
And they are thieves trying to steal God’s sheep.
3.
Not a very flattering picture.
II.
I am the Gate
A.
Offers Protection
1.
Obviously the main purpose for shepherd to sleep in the gate
area was that nothing could pass over him without his notice.
a)
He put his life on the line to protect his sheep.
b)
They knew protection and safety in the fold with the shepherd
guarding the gate.
2.
What a wonderful thought for the Christian.
a)
As we give our lives to Christ, we enter into his protection.
b)
To guarantee that protection, he lays at the gate so Satan
cannot assail us.
c)
The world around us is full of chaotic danger, but with Jesus
watching over us, we know we can survive anything.
d)
It’s not that our physical bodies will be protected, but the
spiritual body that is safely guarded by our good shepherd.
3.
In the ancient world, the castle would be our human equivalent
to the sheepfold.
a)
They offered protection to the people in their area.
b)
Did you know that the gate was the most heavily fortified area
of the whole castle?
c)
If the gate could be breached, the castle was lost.
4.
Our Gate can never be breached.
a)
Nothing that Satan throws at Jesus can overcome him.
b)
As long as Jesus is our gate, Satan cannot come in and steal
us.
c)
Our only danger is that we tend to want to wander out of the
fold and explore the dangerous country on our own!
B.
Offers Salvation
1.
Another purpose for the fold and gate was salvation.
a)
Any sheep inside was saved.
b)
Any sheep outside that fold at night would probably perish.
2.
Cesar Malan, a famous minister from Geneva, had a genuine
interest in the spiritual welfare of anyone with whom he came in contact. On one occasion, after being introduced to a
woman, Malan asked his new acquaintance about her personal relationship with
the Lord. Caught off guard, and
somewhat annoyed by his question, she curtly said that she didn't care to
discuss the matter. The minister kindly
assured her that he would be praying for her salvation. It wasn't long before circumstances brought
the two together again. As they talked,
it became apparent to Pastor Malan that his prayers were being answered. The once antagonistic woman had recognized
her spiritual need and was now asking him what was required to come to the
Savior. That woman was none other than
Charlotte Elliott, who later wrote the beloved old hymn, "Just As I
Am."
a)
It doesn’t matter how sickly we are.
b)
It doesn’t matter how old we are.
c)
It doesn’t matter how sinful we are.
d)
If we come to him for salvation, he gives it to us.
e)
And he nurses us back to full spiritual health.
C.
Offers the only way in
1.
Too many people think there are many ways to heaven.
a)
It doesn’t matter what you believe.
2.
Yet Jesus again makes it plain that the only way to God is
through him.
a)
*I* am the gate.
Whoever enters through *me* will be saved.
3.
An anonymous author made this striking comparison:
"Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus
for only 3. Yet the influence of
Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined
130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers
of all antiquity. Jesus painted no
pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and
Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry;
but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by
Him. Jesus composed no music; still
Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest
perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in
His praise. Every sphere of human
greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.
4.
"His unique
contribution to the race of men is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music.
Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. He alone can speak peace to the human heart,
strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead."
III.
Concl
A.
It is important that you understand the nature of Christ.
1.
He is our Lord and Savior.
2.
It is only through him and his sacrifice that we have any hope
at all.
3.
We don’t deserve, We can’t ever earn it, Yet he freely gives
it.
4.
Max Lucado says it's a
story worth retelling: "Seems a fellow is doing some shopping at a
commissary on a military base. Doesn't
need much, just some coffee and a loaf of bread. He is standing in line at the checkout. Behind him is a woman with a full cart. "He steps up to the register. The clerk invites him to draw a piece of paper out of a
fishbowl. `If you pull out the correct
slip, then all your groceries are free,' the clerk explains. "`How many winning slips are
there?' asks the buyer. "`Only
one.' "The bowl is full so the
chances are slim, but the fellow tries anyway, and wouldn't you know it, he
gets the winning ticket! What a
surprise, but then he realizes he is only buying coffee and bread. What a waste. "But this fellow is quick. He turns to the lady behind him--the one with the mountain of
stuff--and announces, `Well, what do you know, honey? We won! We don't have to
pay a penny.' "She stares at
him. He winks at her. And somehow she has the wherewithal to play
along. After all, the prize was for all the groceries the winner was buying; in
this case hers as well as his! She
steps up beside him, puts her arm through his, and smiles. And for a moment they stand side-by-side,
wedded by good fortune. In the parking
lot she gives him a hug and goes on her way with a grand story to tell her
friends.
5.
"A story not too distant from our own. We, too, have been graced with a
surprise.
a)
Even more than that of the lady. For though her debt was high, she could have paid it.
b)
We can't begin to pay ours.
We, like the woman, have been given a gift.
c)
Not just at the checkout, but at the judgment seat.
d)
Not just for a
moment, but for eternity. And don't we
have a grand story to tell our friends?"