Jesus’ Words in Red The Gate

Jesus’ Words in Red 

The Gate

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

Jesus is the only Gate to safety

Only Jesus can give us the protection and provision

We need for this life and the life to come

This door is operated by Voice Recognition

So if we as leaders want to truly lead people

We must teach them to recognize the voice of Jesus   

The Gate

John 10 brings us two of Jesus’ “I Am” statements

of the seven found in the Gospel of John.

“I am the gate”

“I am the good Shepherd”

There are two things to take into

consideration as you look at John 10…

The cultural understanding of sheep

and shepherding at the time of Christ.

 

And the Old Testament scriptures

regarding sheep and shepherding.

The cultural understanding gives us two pictures…

The sheep pen in the pastures where the sheep grazed

and the sheep pen outside the village.

Both sheep pens were surrounded by a barrier

to keep out the dangers to the sheep at night.

Both had an opening called,

a gate where the sheep entered.

The sheep pen outside the village

would be used by many shepherds.

Each one keeping their flock overnight.

So you would find different

herds of sheep all together.

The gate was a person who watched

over the gate to keep the sheep safe.

When you take into account the Old Testament scriptures

you will see God’s people were described as sheep.

God’s people had shepherds.

In Ezekiel 34, God is against

the shepherds of His people.

They had used the sheep for

their own gain and scattered them.

The picture Jesus gives us when He says…

 “I am the Gate”     

Is a picture of shepherds, shepherds of God’s people,

bringing the sheep in and out of the gate to find pasture.

There is a security to the shepherd’s

sheep because Jesus is the Gate.

Although Jesus says…

 “I am the Good Shepherd”

In the following verses He is establishing the

importance of many shepherds to care for His sheep.

These shepherds will lead the sheep

to good pasture and through the

Gate where they will be kept safe.

Those who are led through the Gate

are keep safe from the thief who

comes to steal kill and destroy.

Jesus, the Gate, is there to

give us life to the fullest.

Sadly, there are shepherds who do not

lead the sheep through the Gate.

They do not let the sheep dwell

together with other people of the Lord.

They are divisive because they care

more about themselves than the sheep.

Notice the shepherds who lead the sheep

through the Gate speak to their sheep.

    

The sheep know the voice of their shepherd.

The shepherd knows his sheep by name.

 It is important for us to know before

we read Jesus is the Good Shepherd…

  

Jesus is not doing away with

shepherds of His people.

But He is revealing the difference between

the shepherds that lead the sheep to the safety

and fullness of Christ and those who do not.

If you have a shepherd that leads you

through the Gate into the Lord’s security,

pray for them and love them because they love you.

It is interesting to see that these shepherds lead the

sheep in and out to find pasture, as God protects

the sheep in the sheep pen in the dark of night.

No matter how wonderful your pastor is,

our protection comes from passing through the Gate.

The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.

I realize many would interpret the shepherd entering

the gates as being Jesus as well as Jesus being

the Gate and I would not argue the point.

Let me say the disciples and the religious leaders

as well as the Jewish people were listening to Jesus.

For the leaders of God’s people we must realize…

We are to bring the sheep through the Gate, Jesus Christ.

Because Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

It is important that the voice we as leaders speak

is the voice of the Lord not our own opinion.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.

 1 Peter 4:11

Throughout history there have been thieves

and robbers trying to destroy God’s sheep.

There have been many good leaders who have failed.

The Gate is activated by “Voice Recognition”.

Teach people to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.

There is only “One Door”, “One Gate”.

Jesus answered,

"I am the way and the truth and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me…”

John 14:6-7

  

Scripture Reading

John 10:1-10 NIV

10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 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. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."  6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 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.