Scripture:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:1-3
Observation:
What door is Jesus referring and where does it lead to in verse 1? Well what does He say in 7? “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” The cultural context of what a sheepfold looks like also helps us paint an image of Jesus’ analogy to these people. The sheepfold was a place where homeowners would gather their sheep near their house and have a gatekeeper protect them from thieves and robbers.
Application:
The sheepfold is being in community with God and community with God’s people and Jesus makes it clear how many different routes one can take to enter: 1.
Jesus portrays the gospel so clearly here. He goes on to say in verse 9: I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…”
Lastly, let us soak on the words in verse 3 for the day: To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. As we head into a busy week let us be reminded that God pursues us and does it personally. BY NAME and LEADS.
With a week filled with “to do” lists let us focus on “being”, being sheep and allowing Jesus the gatekeeper to lead us.
Prayer:
Lord I thank you for pursuing me. I thank you for leading me. I thank you for laying down your life so that I may know you, for making a way to be in community with you. Father remind me today that the cross was enough and fill me with your everlasting joy as I head into this busy week.