“The Door”
The I AM Statements of Jesus
FCC - August 22, 2007
Text: John 10: 7-10
Introduction: This morning we are continuing a new sermon series, The I AM statements of Jesus from the Gospel of John. Jesus made an incredible statement to the Jews in response to a discussion about the greatness of Abraham. This is what Jesus said:
John 8:58 (NIV) "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" Wow. What a claim. Jesus pre-existed before Abraham! At that point the Scripture says that the Jews began to pick up stones to stone Jesus. They knew that He was claiming to be God and that was blasphemy to them. It reminded me of a time in the OT when God gave His name to Moses at the burning bush:
Exodus 3:14-15 (NIV) God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ’I am has sent me to you.’ " God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, ’The Lord, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.
Throughout the book of John, Jesus makes claims about Himself. There are seven I AM statements that we will be looking at these next few weeks. Two weeks ago we looked at the statement: “I AM the Bread of Life” and last week we focused on Jesus’ statement found “I AM the Light of the World.” This week we will look at His third statement: “I AM the Door.”
A Door is a metaphor for a variety of things in Scripture…
• Open doors are metaphors for hospitality to strangers. Job 31:32 (NIV) but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler—
• A Door is an expression for even what we let in and out of our lives. Psalm 141:3 (NIV) Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
• A door also represents opportunities. Rev. 3:8 (NIV) I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
• During the first OT Passover, blood was used to mark the doors of the Jesus people, so they would escape death. Exodus 12:22 (NIV) Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.
Jesus comes into the world and teaches that He is the Door. John 10:7-10 (NIV) There-fore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
There were two ways that sheep were kept in Jesus day. In town, the sheep were kept in a large, communal pen where shepherds would often bring their flocks at night. So several flocks would be mixed together under the care of a watchman, or the KJV calls the watchman a porter. In the morning, the shepherds would walk up to the pen and call their sheep and the sheep would respond to the voice of the shepherd. That is why John writes this in John 10:2-4 (NIV)
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
The second way that sheep were kept in Jesus’ day was when the flock was in the field or the countryside. The shepherd would make a makeshift pen without a door—just an opening. The shepherd would literally become the door to keep the sheep in and the wild animals out. This brings us to this morning’s passage and Jesus’ claim to be the door.
This look this morning at what kind of door that Jesus is…First we see that Jesus is…
1. A special door (v. 7-8). There-fore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. Jesus is a special door…there is no other door like Him.
a. He’s a unique door. He is the only way to God. Today many would say that there are many doors…you just have to pick one…they all lead up the same mountain. Jesus says he is THE door…THE gate. In a future sermon we will look at John 14: 6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.” He makes an exclusive claim to be the way to God. Others who claimed to have a way to God were thieves and robbers.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Jesus is a special door that only those who know Him…find life.
b. He’s an intimate door. Notice the sheep did not listen to the thieves and robbers. They know the voice of the shepherd. Jesus is a special door because He invites intimacy. You know that some bosses have a closed door policy and you can never get in to see them. Others have an open-door policy and our very approachable. Jesus door is always open and invites us to get to know Him or to deepen our relationship with him.
Rev. 3:20 (NIV) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. We often use this verse for salvation…and it is appropriate, but actually it was written to the church and the invitation was for intimate fellowship with Jesus.
Jesus is a special door in that it is exclusive and personal. We also learn that Jesus is…
2. A saving door (v. 9a). I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. Jesus is a saving door…whoever enters through Him will be saved. You can’t go around Jesus…you can’t bypass Jesus. If you want to be saved from your sin and given the promise of eternal life…you have to go through Jesus!
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
It seems that man is always trying to invent ways to get to God or to be spiritual. New sects and religions pop up everyday. Scripture is clear that salvation is found in no one other than Jesus. Acts 4:12 (NIV) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
What does Jesus save us from? Jesus saves us from our sin. 1 Tim. 1:15 (NIV) Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst.
Jesus saves us from death and gives us eternal life. James 5:20 (NIV) remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Jesus is a special door, a saving door, and a…
3. A secure door (v. 9b). He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The imagery here is that the sheep are safe when the shepherd is present. The sheep can come into the pen and feel safe…they can go out and look for pasture and they are safe. I love the way The Message puts this verse: John 10:9 (Msg) I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. The sheep are safe to move about and find the shepherd’s provision.
In the same way as the sheep, we are safe to come in and go out…to find pasture. We are safe and secure from the enemy we can come in and feast on the riches of Christ…we come in by building our relationship with Christ through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with others. Those of us who know the Lord Jesus, need to be aware of the door that leads to a deeper relationship with the Lord…and we need to be more intentional about going in and growing.
Likewise, we need to remember that Jesus wants us to come in and go out. We are safe go out to live for Him and to serve others. We can risk going on a mission trip, inviting an International into our home, or sharing Christ with a neighbor. We can risk doing His will, not because we will be safe, but because we are in His care.
Psalm 31:7-8 (NIV) I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
Jesus is a special door, a saving door, a secure, and a…
4. A satisfying door (v. 10). The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Thieves sneak into sheep pens really for only a couple reasons…they want to steal the sheep or kill the sheep. They are on a destructive path. The thieves that Jesus may have been referring to were false prophets or the Pharisees. But the devil himself is referred to a thief looking to destroy us.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Many fall for the glitter of this world and the lies that sin satisfies…but to a person, we eventually discover that sin is only pleasant for a season and leaves us empty and searching for meaning and purpose in life. Jesus comes to say that there is more… there is more to this life than living and dying! Jesus comes to give us abundant life full or rich meaning and deep satisfaction! God gives us the promise of eternal life, but we can have a rich and fulfilling life here. We don’t just have to wait for this life to enjoy God’s victory.
Romans 8:37 (NIV) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Conclusion: I want to ask you today: Do you really believe that Jesus is a special, saving, secure, and satisfying door? For yourself? For others? Some churches show sinners the door… people who are different…from a different country…a different economic status… problems that are foreign to us. Instead of showing them the door and not welcoming them…could we make a commitment to be welcoming and invite them to the Door to heaven? Could we point them to Jesus? He’s a special, saving, secure, and satisfying door.
Psalm 24:7 (NIV) Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
