I Am The Door

John 10 begins with a parable spoken by the Lord Jesus to a number of hostile Pharisees. As was often the case the deeper and spiritual meaning of this parable was hidden from these men. The Lord’s purpose was twofold. He intended, first, to expose false teachers and condemn unapproved leaders who trouble His church. Second, He wished to explain His own God-given credentials as Mediator of the everlasting covenant and Shepherd of the flock of God which had been placed into His hands for safekeeping and salvation.

The Lord our Shepherd

In His parable the Lord employs the image of sheep in a sheepfold to represent God’s elect people, the true church. He also speaks of a door, a porter and a good shepherd who cares for the flock. Then He speaks of thieves and robbers, hireling shepherds and destructive wolves. He is teaching the church of His own saving role within the covenant of grace. Christ is the Door of the sheepfold by whom the sheep enter in. He alone enables access into the church of God on earth. He is the gate-keeper by whom under-shepherds or ministers are approved. He is the Good Shepherd who ‘giveth his life for the sheep’. 

The ‘I am’ sayings

Because we are specifically considering the ‘I am’ sayings of the Lord Jesus as recorded in John’s gospel we shall dwell tomorrow on Christ’s saying ‘I am the door’ and ‘I am the door of the sheep’. These sayings express the uniqueness of the Lord Jesus as the appointed and authorised means of access into the church, the company of God’s people upon earth. A door when it is open provides a means of entrance. When it is closed it is a barrier against entry. A door protects those who are secure within and resists those who have no right to enter. 

I am the door

The Lord Jesus calls Himself the Door and then the Door of the sheep. Again, we note the Lord’s commanding and authoritative language. He and He alone is the entrance to spiritual life. This singular role is His by divine appointment and He carries the burden of responsibility. In the everlasting covenant of grace God’s chosen people were committed into Christ’s hands for salvation so that He can say, ‘by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved’. He is the Door of access by which we enter into spiritual, eternal life.

Accomplished and applied

Not only is eternal life God’s gift but the method by which it is secured was ordained by God in covenant agreement to demonstrate His holiness, justice and love. In God’s gracious purpose the gift of eternal life was obtained by the sacrifice and death of His Son. Christ was first appointed as Redeemer in the covenant of peace, then sent into the world to this end. The Lord Jesus could say, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly’ and, like a door in a sheepfold, the Lord protects and preserves His people by placing Himself between His own little flock and their enemies. 

A familiar picture

When the Lord employed this imagery it would have resonated with His audience. Sheep-rearing and shepherding was a familiar activity in Palestine and, as we have seen, the Lord was adept in using common symbols to convey divine truth. Prophetically the Lord’s people have often been called God’s sheep, His flock and the flock of His pasture. In Psalm 23 David calls the Lord ‘my shepherd’ and himself a sheep led forth to green pastures. Many of the prophets echo this sentiment and refer to God’s ministers as guardians and under-shepherds of the Lord’s flock. 

Thieves, robbers, wolves

Yet, as with the Pharisees of the Lord’s day, there have always been those who seek to trouble the church and disturb the peace of Christ’s flock. The Lord Jesus has silenced the accusations of the law of God and pacified the justice and anger of God against our sin, nevertheless, other enemies remain. Satan and his angels present themselves as angels of light to deceive the church. False teachers with false doctrine are like wolves who dress in sheep’s clothing to infiltrate the flock and tear and scatter the sheep. 

A strong Door

Behind the Door, secure in the fold, the Lord’s little ones stay safe. Led by Him we ‘go in and out, and find pasture’. We are fed with spiritual blessings and built up in our faith by the gospel of free and sovereign grace. We are nourished by the Saviour who knows our need, directs our path and leads us by His Spirit into all truth. Christ is the Door of the sheep for our safety, security, protection and prosperity. When we live in His shadow we are shielded by His strength. 

Amen.