I Am The Door Series

“I Am The Door”

John 10:1,7-10

Intro:

Jesus has told the Jews that he was God, and that he had seen and revealed himself to Abraham (John 8:58), and they had taken up stones to kill Jesus, however he hid himself and walked out of the temple.

Leaving the temple, they came across a blind man sitting by the road. Jesus, continuing his discussion on being the Light of the World (John 9:5), healed the man of his blindness. This started a big uproar among the leaders in the temple, and much discussion about Jesus. When all was said and done, they kicked the young man out of the temple. When Jesus heard what they had done to the young man (John 9:35-39), went and found him and presented himself as the Son of God, and the young man worshipped Jesus.

This led to more discussion between the Pharisees and Jesus about their blindness, spiritual blindness. Jesus then speaks a double parable unto them concerning who he was (John 10:6). And Jesus realizing they had completely missed what he had just told them went on interpret it for them. Today we will be looking at the first part of this parable and Jesus’ statement “I Am The Door”.

A sheepfold was an area where they would take and put the sheep up for the night. Being that herding was a common business in the days and lands of the Bible, these Jews would have had no problem understanding what Jesus was talking about. These sheepfolds were sometimes created out of the natural landscape, such as using a cave, or using an area that was surrounded by briers or thorn bushes. Some were built by the shepherds themselves by using rocks or dirt to make the walls. In these sheepfolds, there was usually only one door going in. When the shepherd had his sheep in the fold, he would lay himself across the door entrance, and become the door. This way he would know if danger was trying to enter in or to keep the sheep was wandering off. Jesus speaks of His fold here, and what he does to take care of it.

We can see that Jesus is three types of doors from the explanation he gives to those listening.

I) He Is The Door Of Salvation

1) He is the only door

a) To get into Jesus’ flock you must come through him

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

b) To try to come in some other way, will only have you cast out (digging under, climbing over, or breaking down the wall)

Matthew 22:1-14 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, (2) The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (3) And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. (4) Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. (5) But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: (6) And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. (7) But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (8) Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. (9) Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. (10) So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. (11) And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few are chosen.