Jesus, Gateway to Meaningful Life
John 10:7-10, Psalm 118:19-26, Jeremiah 23:1-6
1 Jesus often referred to symbols that teach something about him, The 7 I Am statements from John’s Gospel are metaphors, saying Jesus is something, meaning that, in some way, He is like something.
2. Two of these metaphors come from the world of shepherding and sheep tending. They are intertwined, so we cannot completely exclude one from the other, but we can focus on one, and then the other. So, this week, we will focus on Jesus as the gate of the sheep.
3. City dwellers generally have limited knowledge of sheep; not usually pets.
“What are you doing with that sheep? You should take it to the zoo,” the officer said. The following week, the same police officer sees the same man with the same sheep in the front seat, with both of them wearing sunglasses. The police officer pulls him over. “I thought you were going to take that sheep to the zoo!” the officer said. The man replied, “I did. We had such a good time we are going to the beach this weekend!”
4. Well, we will try to learn enough about sheep and shepherding to understand.
5. Part of our text could be a midrash on two passages: Psalm 118:19-26 and Jeremiah 23:1-6, both Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah.
Main Idea: Jesus is like a gate or a door to a sheep pen; He protects His flock and regulates them so they can thrive.
I. Jesus is the GATEWAY (Door) for the Sheep (John 10:7 Paired with Psalm 118:19-26).
A. Jesus declares that He is like the DOOR (gate) to a sheep pen. qura
1. Only one gate, so this reflects the thought of John 14:6.
2. Modern shepherds in that part of the world serve as the gate to a sheep pen.
B. Sheep are SAFE within the pen (sheepfold).
C. Salvation is MEDIATED through Christ.
D. The connection between Messiah and the GATE might be midrash from Psalm 118.
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
II. The ALTERNATIVES to Jesus Are Not Good (John 10:8 with Jeremiah 23:1-2).
A. This does not mean there were no good SHEPHERDS in general.
1. One major warning throughout the NT – and OT – is about false teachers/prophets
2. It is amazing how flooded the early church was with them
3. Still plenty around today, including very powerful cults and isms…
4. The best protection is to know the Bible well, and to know how to think (logic).
5. We also need to use the deductive check….
6. We also need to constantly remember that we don’t know what we don’t know.
B. This does mean there is no true MESSIAH other than Jesus.
Acts 5:35-37, And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.” [Gamaliel speaking]
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.”
III. The Gateway Opens to Salvation and Helps Us THRIVE (John 10:9-10 with Jeremiah 23:3-6).
A. We are SAVED through Him., the Lord Our Righteousness.
B. We THRIVE through Him.
1. He lets us in and out according to His will.
2. But sheep can stray, they can refuse to graze as they should or drink enough water.
3. We have the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
4. We can be stubborn, resistant sheep.
Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
C. Abundant life means being FRUITFUL and multiplying (John 10:10, Jeremiah 23:3-6).
Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
CONCLUSION
1. Do you allow the Lord to open and close the gate of your decisions? Do you make trouble and go your own way rather than where the Lord is leading you?
2. In schools today, there are students who are cooperative and willing to learn, and those who say, “what do we need this for? “I am not going to do that, it is too much work.” “I don’t care if I flunk.”
3. The sheep can show an amazing variety of attitudes. When the Lord releases you to the field, stay in the field. Don’t wander off. Be ready to cooperate.
