Sermon Devotional: I AM the Door
Sermon Title: I Am the Door
Scripture: John 10:1-9 (NIV)
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:7-11 (ESV)
As he walked around Galilee with his disciples, Jesus told them who he is. He used metaphors that had everyday examples to behold as they went from place to place. In this way, Jesus showed them who he is. Today we learn that Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep” (Jn 10:7, 9).
During the winter, there were sheep pens near the shepherds’ homes in the village. But in the warm season, the sheep and the shepherds would remain in the fields at night. A makeshift enclosure might be built on the hillside consisting of simple walls and an opening where the sheep come in and go out. The only door to this enclosure is the shepherd himself. Once the sheep are safely inside, a shepherd would lay down in the opening and keep watch through the night, catching winks while he could. The sheep can’t leave without the shepherd’s knowing and the sheep are safe because the shepherd guards them – with his own body. “I am the door of the sheep.” Jesus himself is the gate through which the sheep come and go to find safety for the night and green pasture for the day.
Jesus says that he himself is the door. But not just any door. Unlike the old game show that asks contestants to choose Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3, Jesus is the one and only entrance for the sheep into the sheepfold. Whoever enters through Jesus-the-Door will be saved! This begs us to consider that whoever refuses to enter through Jesus-the-Door will remain lost. Whoever may choose Door #2 or Door #3 chooses to remain outside the sheepfold, outside the protection and provision of the Good Shepherd.
Think about it for a few moments. If we do not enter through the door that is Jesus, we remain outside. Outside of Jesus-the-Door, are “thieves and robbers.” Not just robbers of your stuff, but thieves of your heart, your God-given desires and dreams. The thieves and robbers offer only chaos and deception and separation for the soul; they come “to steal and kill and destroy” (Jo 10:10). Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Mt 7:13). It’s truly dangerous out there!
Have you ever given thought to what you are being saved FROM? Or, what are you being saved TO? Outside is a life of striving and a fear of scarcity. Shame and disappointed expectations are served up daily. Inside, because of Jesus-the-Door, is “life to the full” (Jn 10:10.) This is not a promise of riches or material success, but it is a promise of abundance because of relationship with the Life-Giver. The Lord himself is inviting us to enter in through Jesus-the-Door where the protective, companioning, relational Presence of God welcomes us, the “sheep of his pasture” (Ps 100:3). Now and for all eternity.
Consider—
╬ Saved FROM and Saved TO. When you resist the invitation of Jesus-the-Door to come into the sheepfold, what are you exposed to outside? When you enter through Jesus-the-Door, what are you being Saved FROM? What are you being Saved TO?
╬ In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). What does it mean to say that the Lord promises “life to the full” (NIV) or “abundant life” (ESV)? Take a moment to parse out what “abundant life” does and does not mean. Then, ask yourself whether or not you are living in God’s fullness and abundance? What is it that seems to be missing? Take time to pray and ask for the “more” that is abundant life in Christ.
╬ Jesus, thank you for always inviting us to come to you. You are the entrance to abundant life and to unending love for today as well as for eternity. Jesus-the-Door, receive us today and always. Jesus, I come. In your name we pray. Amen.
Scripture: John 10:1-9 (NIV)
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:7-11 (ESV)
As he walked around Galilee with his disciples, Jesus told them who he is. He used metaphors that had everyday examples to behold as they went from place to place. In this way, Jesus showed them who he is. Today we learn that Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep” (Jn 10:7, 9).
During the winter, there were sheep pens near the shepherds’ homes in the village. But in the warm season, the sheep and the shepherds would remain in the fields at night. A makeshift enclosure might be built on the hillside consisting of simple walls and an opening where the sheep come in and go out. The only door to this enclosure is the shepherd himself. Once the sheep are safely inside, a shepherd would lay down in the opening and keep watch through the night, catching winks while he could. The sheep can’t leave without the shepherd’s knowing and the sheep are safe because the shepherd guards them – with his own body. “I am the door of the sheep.” Jesus himself is the gate through which the sheep come and go to find safety for the night and green pasture for the day.
Jesus says that he himself is the door. But not just any door. Unlike the old game show that asks contestants to choose Door #1, Door #2, or Door #3, Jesus is the one and only entrance for the sheep into the sheepfold. Whoever enters through Jesus-the-Door will be saved! This begs us to consider that whoever refuses to enter through Jesus-the-Door will remain lost. Whoever may choose Door #2 or Door #3 chooses to remain outside the sheepfold, outside the protection and provision of the Good Shepherd.
Think about it for a few moments. If we do not enter through the door that is Jesus, we remain outside. Outside of Jesus-the-Door, are “thieves and robbers.” Not just robbers of your stuff, but thieves of your heart, your God-given desires and dreams. The thieves and robbers offer only chaos and deception and separation for the soul; they come “to steal and kill and destroy” (Jo 10:10). Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Mt 7:13). It’s truly dangerous out there!
Have you ever given thought to what you are being saved FROM? Or, what are you being saved TO? Outside is a life of striving and a fear of scarcity. Shame and disappointed expectations are served up daily. Inside, because of Jesus-the-Door, is “life to the full” (Jn 10:10.) This is not a promise of riches or material success, but it is a promise of abundance because of relationship with the Life-Giver. The Lord himself is inviting us to enter in through Jesus-the-Door where the protective, companioning, relational Presence of God welcomes us, the “sheep of his pasture” (Ps 100:3). Now and for all eternity.
Consider—
╬ Saved FROM and Saved TO. When you resist the invitation of Jesus-the-Door to come into the sheepfold, what are you exposed to outside? When you enter through Jesus-the-Door, what are you being Saved FROM? What are you being Saved TO?
╬ In this passage, Jesus tells his disciples, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). What does it mean to say that the Lord promises “life to the full” (NIV) or “abundant life” (ESV)? Take a moment to parse out what “abundant life” does and does not mean. Then, ask yourself whether or not you are living in God’s fullness and abundance? What is it that seems to be missing? Take time to pray and ask for the “more” that is abundant life in Christ.
╬ Jesus, thank you for always inviting us to come to you. You are the entrance to abundant life and to unending love for today as well as for eternity. Jesus-the-Door, receive us today and always. Jesus, I come. In your name we pray. Amen.