Jesus Is The Door For His Sheep

JESUS IS THE DOOR FOR HIS SHEEP

John 10:1-10 - May 2, 2004 – EASTER 4

JOHN 10:1-10

1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

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Dear Christian Friends and fellow saints in the Lord:

We live in a great nation that is diverse. There are many different cultures, many different religions. In the midst of this diversity and manifold differences believers realize there is only one way to heaven. We know some of those Scripture verses that remind us of this fact. In the Gospel, John writes Jesus’ words: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Later on Luke pens the Apostles’ words as they were put in prison and let out, they remind the people that: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (ACTS 4:12). Time and time again the Lord reminds us that it is only through Him and through Christ alone there is salvation. Yet, as we look at the different religions in this world, they often try to point people in different directions.

On this Sunday and in our text we find that the Lord reminds us again that He is the good shepherd. In these ten verses Jesus is the door or gate for His shape. This is what we want to look at. No matter what other religions might combine with the simple message of salvation, there is only one way

JESUS IS THE DOOR FOR HIS SHEEP.

I. Jesus’ sheep listen to His voice.

II. Jesus’ sheep follow His footsteps.

I. Jesus’ sheep listen to his voice.

The words in this chapter of John were spoken to the disciples, and they were also spoken to the leaders of the day. The church leaders of Jesus’ day had become false prophets; because they were combining many things that were not needed for salvation. They were described here by Jesus in the very first verse: 1"I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. Jesus, as He lived on earth, went into the temple and drove out the moneychangers. Jesus, as He lived on earth, told the scribes and Pharisees that they were making the Lord’s religion a religion of rules taught by men. They were the thieves and robbers who were trying to steal salvation from God’s people, from His sheep. Later on in our text Jesus repeats: 7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. The true sheep of God’s flock were not going to listen to the scribes and Pharisees. The true sheep of God’s flock realized that keeping all of God’s Law was not enough to save them. After all, no one can keep all of God’s Laws.

The beautiful description we have here is that Jesus is concerned about His flock and His sheep: and the sheep listen to his voice, even though there are those who come in and tries to climb inside other than through the door and try to steal those sheep. Jesus says: 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. The Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd enters through the door. Jesus also calls Himself the Door (or gate). He says, I am the gate for the sheep. The sheep listen to His voice, because it is a familiar voice. What does He say? He says: The sheep will never follow a stranger. In fact they will run away from him, because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. For those who are trying to mislead the sheep, Jesus’ true sheep will stay put and not follow and even run away. Jesus continues: 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Over and over the Lord reminds us that He is the Good Shepherd and also the Gate.