DOOR

In the immediate context, the Lord Jesus has just been discussing His light-giving ministry with the unbelieving Jewish leadership. He now uses the metaphor of a flock to describe His work, as contrasted with the false spiritual efforts of the Temple and synagogue hierarchies. Unlike these false shepherds, the Lord Jesus is the true guide of the sheep, who obediently recognize His authority.

Verse 1 paints the verbal picture of several flocks belonging to a number of shepherds, all gathered together in a community sheepfold with a porter standing guard. The shepherds would each come along and call out their individual sheep by name. In verses 7 and 9 the picture is of a rougher shelter in the country, where the shepherd beds down his flock for the night. Such areas were not much more than a circular group of stones with an opening through which the sheep could enter and exit. When keeping them in this structure, the shepherd himself would act as a door keeping the sheep from wandering away as well as protecting them from danger. By saying ‘I am the door’ Christ is presenting this image of vigilant protection.

Firstly, we see that there is only one door. Christ asserts that the one entering in by Him will be saved. Later the Lord Jesus would affirm ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’, John 14. 6. These claims of exclusive salvation in Christ run counter to the pluralistic and relativistic thinking of the modern world. The offer of eternal life is good to whoever will enter in through Christ. Other doors are incapable of leading to God, redemption, or contentment.

Secondly, He promises security to those who enter in by Him - they will go ‘in and out’. This phrase is used in Scripture to describe perfect safety, Deut. 28. 6; 1 Kgs. 3. 7; Ps. 121. 8.

Thirdly, the Lord offers sustenance on His good pasture for the spiritually hungry. In Christ the lost can find deliverance from the guilt, grip, and penalty of sin. They also obtain eternal life with perfect safety vouchsafed by God’s promise and omnipotent power. Finally, they discover in Him One who meets every spiritual, emotional, and physical need of His own.