Gates

John 10 is all about sheep and shepherds.  Our society uses the term "sheep" as something negative.  In fact, the insult "You are just a bunch of sheep!" is an insult related to being dim-minded followers.  Jesus doesn't seem to share this aversion to the "sheep" analogy.  Why?

Many of us share a favorite psalm, Psalm 23.  "The Lord is my shepherd ..."  Psalm 23 begins by calling us sheep.  Jesus, in John 10, uses the term often.  "I am the good shepherd," Jesus says in John 10:11.  "I know my sheep, and my sheep know me," Jesus continues in John 10:14.  While our society uses the sheep analogy as a negative, Jesus uses it as an endearing term.  As usual, society is wrong and Jesus is right!

In John 10, Jesus calls Himself the gate.  "I am the gate for the sheep (John 10:7)," Jesus announces.  What does He mean by this?

1. Gates have the obvious function of permitting or restricting entry.  Jesus says he is the passage or entry into God's plan for us.  We enter eternal life, God's plan, purpose, and truth through Jesus.  He is "the way," not "a" way.  Many in our society have issues with this clear, direct, and concise statement.  But Jesus is never "wishy-washy" about this.  "No one comes to the Father, except through me (John 14:6)," Jesus states in John 14:6.  Jesus is THE gate.

2. Gates allow entry and egress.  Jesus is clearly the way into the Kingdom of God, but Jesus also allows His sheep to "lie down in green pastures and walk beside still waters (Psalm 23)."  Jesus gives His sheep freedom.  We sometimes use that freedom to stray from the shepherd or to wander into things that are not good for His sheep.  We have free will, even if we choose to use it unwisely.

3. Gates also protect.  There is one theory about a shepherd's gate that brings home the beauty of John 10.  When the sheep were grazing in remote areas, they were penned up using crude, improvised enclosures.  Rocks or wood were used to build the pen, and an opening was left to allow the sheep to come and go.  At night, the shepherd would actually lie across that opening, both blocking and protecting the sheep.

I love that 3rd point!  I remember a youth trip during which I was in charge of a bunch of teenage boys.  We had a lot of fun, but I knew these boys (one of them was named "critter").  In the La Quinta hotel, I decided to place my cot across the door of the room that night.  These boys weren't going to wander the hotel at night on my watch!  I was the "gate" of those little sheep!

How about you?  Is Jesus your gate?  Do you enter each day through Him?  Do you believe Jesus is the only way to the Father?  Do you pray, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep," as you lie down at night?  Try these things in your prayers and practices.  See if you become less opposed to the idea of being "the sheep of His pasture."  And see if the concept of following the Good Shepherd doesn't become a beautiful way of doing life!  AMEN