The Door of the Sheep - John 10:7

John the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke unto them”, and in chapter ten and verse seven John shared how Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep” where we read:

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

The verse reads, “Then said Jesus unto them again, ...” John began with the words, “Then said Jesus” which means “therefore, wherefore and these things being so uttered, declared and proclaimed the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “unto them again” or “to the people listening to Him another time”. John shared because the people did not understand what Jesus was telling them, He began to speak to the people yet another time.

The verse continues, “... Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” John added the words, “Verily, verily” which means “truly, truly or surely, surely” “I say unto you” or “I, Jesus, utter, declare and proclaim to you, people who are listening to Him”, “I am the door” which means “I, Jesus, exist as the opening and passageway” “of the sheep” or “belonging to the four footed, tame animals which are accustomed to graze”. John shared how Jesus certifiably stated that He was the “passageway” to the “sheep”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we discover how Jesus deemed Himself to be the “door” of the “sheep” as He used this agrarian example another time. The people did not understand Jesus' words concerning “sheep” hearing their “shepherd's voice”, so He added that He was in fact the “door” to the “sheep”. Often at night shepherds would make a barrier out of bramble bushes or whatever they could find to encircle their sheep. Then they would lay down at the entrance of that circle like a “door” or “passageway” so that no “sheep” could go out nor could a predator come in. In other words, the “shepherd” was the protector and provider for the “sheep”, and they would have to cross His body to exit His care. God sent His Son Jesus to be the “Great Shepherd” and the “door” for anyone to enter into a personal relationship with Him. Those who believe in Jesus become His “sheep” and shall be under His care. Those who do not will exist basically on their own, and woe be to those who attempt to make entry into God's Kingdom through any other “door”.

Next time John shares how Jesus says, “all that ever came before me are thieves and robbers”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".