JESUS IS THE GATE

Passage: John 10:1-10

Key verse: 9

NIV

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.(A) 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.(B) 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.(C) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.(D) 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.(E) 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,(F) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.(G)

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am(H) the gate(I) for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me(J) are thieves and robbers,(K) but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They 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,(L) and have it to the full.(M)

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Footnotes
  1. John 10:9 Or kept safe
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

I Am the Good Shepherd

10 “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. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 (A)A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus (B)used with them, but they (C)did not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (D)I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, (E)he will be saved and will go in and out and (F)find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and (G)kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The true shepherd and a thief differ in their motives of approaching the sheep. The thief comes to the sheep to steal and use them for his benefit. The shepherd calls them by name and leads them to the pasture. He knows each sheep by its strength, weakness, problems, and the like. He leads them by his example by going on ahead of them. Sheep know, trust, and follow their shepherd. Jesus knows each of his sheep individually, and guides them very personally. His sheep know that Jesus is the good shepherd who loves them and leads them by his examples. They trust his words and follow him. Those who have the good shepherd Jesus are truly blessed and cared for.

Jesus is the gate. No one could enter or leave the sheep pen except by crossing over the shepherd. Jesus is the gate to heaven. No one can go to God and his kingdom except through Christ Jesus. He is the only gate to salvation and an abundant life. Thieves come to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep. But Jesus came to give his life to the sheep so that they could have salvation and life to the fullest. Hence, Jesus’ sheep have the privilege of going “in and out” and finding pasture.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me salvation and life in its fullness. Help me trust and follow you as the shepherd who leads my life to your kingdom.

One Word: Jesus is the gate to God’s kingdom