“I am the door; if anyone enters through 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 10:9-10}
Jesus had healed the blind man in chapter 9, the Pharisees, the religious of that day had excommunicated him, isolated him,{9:34} But Jesus looks him up and says that the Pharisees are thieves and robbers {10:1.} . They are thieves and it is used figuratively to speak of false teachers who present another way of salvation, that is false, untrue, and they are robbing people of the truth, the true way to salvation! Jesus compares Himself to them and He is vastly different! He Begins with the statement,
“I AM…” –
He states, “I, Even I – and only I- Am the Door.” They would have been familiar with the words, “I AM” as it is used in Exodus 3:14, “I Am who I Am.” It is a statement that God made to Moses when he asked who should he say sent him when he went to Pharaoh. “I AM, WHO I AM” is the statement of great Sovereign Supremacy. He is the Self Existent One, in need of nothing or no one outside of Himself to sustain Him, inform Him, support Him, Provide for Him. He is self Existent, Self Sufficient, Sovereign God, who has always existed, independent of all others but Himself!
He provides three needs we have.
The Need to be Saved, from sin’s penalty, satan’s bondage, God’s wrath and saved to a right standing before God. Jesus is the Door to SALVATION. Jesus is the Door to SECURITY. Jesus is the DOOR to SATISFACTION!
“I AM THE DOOR…” –
Jesus uses this phrase it is both Personal- who He is, It is Powerful. It reveals His Exclusivity and His Authority. He and He alone is the ENTRANCE into these blessings. Consider His three Provisions…
1.- THE DOOR OF SALVATION;
A “DOOR,” speaks of a means of entrance, exit. It speaks of access. He and He only is “The Door.” Not “a” door as one of many but “THE,” Door. Exclusive. He speaks of the ACCESS and also the exclusivity. There is no other “DOOR,” He says in John 14;6, “I AM THE Way, THE truth, THE Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.” In Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”-{Acts 4:12}. “For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity–the man Christ Jesus.”-{1 Timothy 2:5 NLT}. ” For EVERYONE who calls on the Name of the LORD will be saved.”-{Romans 10;13}.
Note the Exclusivity of the LORD Jesus; ONE Way, ONE Name; ONE Mediator, ONE LORD, ONE DOOR! The way is narrow, it is His and only His Way. He is not one of many ways to God, or one of many mediators, be it pope, priest, Mary, pastor, denomination, birthright, nationality, but JESUS CHRIST ALONE. He is the DOOR TO SALVATION! And only HIM! God has made The Way and it is through His Son! Thank God He has made a way of salvation for us!
He alone is the means of ESCAPE, Free from sin’s penalty,{Rom 6:23}; Free from Sin’s Power-{Rom 6;14}; one day we will be free from the Presence of Sin {Rev 21:27}; free from satan’s bondage -{Eph 2:1-3}; and Free from God’s wrath,-{Rom 5:9} , He is not only the means of escape but The ENTRANCE into Salvation! Salvation is Through a PERSON! He affords all who come Him and through Him Spiritual Freedom!
Note His Promise of provision! “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved,”
Though He is Exclusive,”…enters THROUGH Me,” His invitation is to “anyone,” there is room for you. This is the glorious hope of the Gospel. There is room for the “chief of sinners,” there is room for the young man who falsely believed there was no grace for him with God, that he had sinned so greatly there was no grace. And then one evening having been taking to a service by his sister heard a message on where sin abounds Grace super abounds!” There was sufficient grace for him to know forgiveness and experience reconciliation and the love of God. There is a “But God…”… Consider these verses,”.. but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,. “-{Rom 5:20}. God provides. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”-{Psalm 103;12}; “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are…”-{1 John 3:1}. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, “-{Rom 8:1}
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. “-{Rom 8:28-29} Jesus Provides for us. He meets a need to be saved, rescued, delivered from spiritual danger.
There is His promise, “…he WILL be saved.” Not,’maybe’ or ‘wish so’ or ‘possibly’ but the certainty, “…will be saved!”
“SAVED.” – “ This is a very descriptive word and was used to describe a person who had recovered from a serious illness, one who had survived a war, one who had come safely through a bad storm or someone who had won at court. What is means for us is that we have, in a spiritual sense, done all of the above and now, we are rescued from all harm and danger. This one little word is a glorious declaration of the security we enjoy in the Lord Jesus Christ” – John 10:28-{Alan Carr}
He assures, guarantees salvation to all who enter in through Him, the DOOR to Salvation! Salvation is found not in a building, society, organization, creed, but in a Person, one Person only – JESUS CHRIST!
He and He alone, He is the DOOR OF SALVATION! Have you entered in? How wonderful is the SAVING SHEPHERD! Free to come and go, under His Protection and salvation!
- HE IS THE DOOR TO SECURITY;
“…and will go in and out…” -{v9}
The phrase, was a Hebrew phrase for describing a life that is absolutely safe and secure to go about one’s business. If the country was under attack, surrounded by an enemy, the people had to stay inside the city walls for protection. But if they were at peace and the ruler was upholding the law and order then the people could come and go in safety and securely. This is the idea here, that the sheep can come in and out to find pasture as they pleased, because of the provision of The Good Shepherd. It’s the idea of living every day as Deuteronomy 28:6 says, “You will be blessed when you COME IN and blessed when you GO OUT.” Psalm 121:8, ” The Lord will KEEP YOUR GOING OUT and your COMING IN from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 23:4-5, “Even though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR and YOUR staff, they comfort me. YOU prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
In Acts 9;28 -speaks of after Paul was converted, and Barnabas introduced him to the apostles and they had come to believe he really had been converted and was one of them and they trusted him it says Paul was with hem ,” moving about freely in Jerusalem.” Literally, the Greek means he was “GOING IN AND OUT,” in Jerusalem.
A DOOR not only provides access, entrance but also provides Protection, SECURITY. For it can be closed to lock out intruders and keep safe those inside!
A shepherd was showing a tourist his enclosure and told them, ‘when the sheep go in they are perfectly safe.’ The tourist asked,”Why doesn’t your pen have a door on it?’ The shepherd replied, “I am the Door. After my sheep are in the pen, I lay my body across the opening. No sheep will step over me and no wolf can get in without getting past me first.” Jesus uses metaphors to illustrate to us so we can understand, and He is the Good shepherd, “I am THE Good shepherd; THE good shepherd lays down {sacrifices] His life for the sheep”-{John 10:11}. Again not the word “THE'” not “a” as one of many but He and He alone is “THE” Good Shepherd, who unlike the hired shepherd who when danger comes abandons the sheep out of concerned or self preservation. Jesus lays down His life for the sheep, such is His commitment, love for them. How tender, courageous and committed is He!
Because He is the Good Shepherd, He is not only “THE DOOR”- of Salvation but Security. He is the protector of our soul’s. He is our soul’s Security. It does not mean HIS followers do not encounter troubles for He Himself said “in this world you will have trouble.. but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.” James wrote, “when” not “if,” but “when you encounter various trials…”{James 1:2;} Troubles are inevitable, but our soul’s are “‘kept by the power of God.”{1 Peter 1:5}. “Kept” means ‘protected,’ they are kept “secure” by God Himself, which is reason Peter says to Praise the Father for! Jesus said, “…and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”-{John 10:28}. Look at that double blessing; Double SECURITY; “… They will never perish and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” Safe and Secure in JESUS! Jesus is “THE DOOR…” To Salvation and SECURITY! And the Third Provision He makes for us, to rest and rejoice in is…
- HE IS THE DOOR TO SUSTENANCE…SATISFACTION;
“…and will go in and out and find pasture…” -{v9}
The sheep come and go about their business, safe because of the Shepherd, who provides for them so they have no unmet needs, and who makes them lay down “…in green pastures.” He provides SUSTENANCE for them. They can lay down in safety and feed on His provision for them. For the follower of Christ, HE IMPARTS Sustenance, what will sustain them, satisfy them,namely, Himself, His Word. Unlike the goal of the thief, “who comes to kill, steal and destroy.”
“If a thief came at night and climbed the wall, he would have a difficulty getting the sheep out willingly because the sheep don’t know his voice. And so very often, they would slit the throat of the sheep in the fold and throw it over the wall. They knew that. They knew the kind of work that robbers did. They would take the wool and then eat the sheep. The thief comes to kill, comes to destroy after he has stolen. On the other hand”-{Mac Arthur}. Such were the religious leaders of Jesus day, peddling a false message and fleecing the people of truth, and the way to GOD, they were spiritual thieves and robbers!
We have a cruel evil enemy who seeks our destruction, Peter writes, “Be alert and of sober min. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, …”-{1 Peter 5:8-9}. The word “devil” means ” slanderer, accuser,” {diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man’s spiritual interest ( Job 1:6 ;Revelation 2:10 ; Zechariah 3:1 ). He is called also “the accuser of the brethren” ( Revelation 12:10 ). He slanders God to us and he accuses us constantly. He seeks to “devour” us, “kill…steal…destroy..” his intent is evil for he is evil devoid of love unlike the Good Shepherd. We must not be ignorant of his schemes, and this is where we must go to God’s Word and take up the sword of the Spirit- which is the Word of God and use it when slanderous and accusations come to our mind , for the attack is on our mind to attack the character of GOD ultimately! God again provides for us, His Spirit to empower us {Read Phil 2:13 NLT} and His Word.”…take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “-{Read Eph 6:16-17}. The enemy uses people and false messages, systems to lead others astray, with false hopes of “peace” when there is none;
“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is greedy for gain,
And from the prophet even to the priest
Everyone deals falsely.
“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.”- {Jeremiah 6:13-14}
Some offer “legalism”which is joyless, loveless, peace-less, graceless, because it is Christ-less! It substitutes love with lists, to try to appeal to GOD with self works and worth as the Pharisee who went to pray and told God how good he was and went through a list of his works to merit god’s approval of him, Self works rather than the work of Christ alone and His gift of grace to save and sustain {Eph 2:8-9}. Believers are not averse to falling back into these old ways as is seen in the Book Of Galatians where Paul confronts the believers who have embraced a false gospel! a “gospel” of self works rather than the Gracious work of Jesus Christ! The Pharisees “SCAM ARTISTS”- seeking to scam people for their own good and making them twice sons of Hell. And those in Galatians leading God’s people astray were deceived,
As in John 10 the “Thief” is a religious person, his ministry is plundering and peddling for the soul’s of people for selfish gain! The Ministry of the Thief and The Ministry of the Good Shepherd are in complete opposition in their Motivations; How unlike they Good Shepherd they are!
The Thief seeks to Take Life
The Shepherd Gives life
The Shepherd Protects Life
God gives us His Word for SUSTENANCE to nourish and feed our souls; Just as what we eat must, the nutrients must be able to nourish, energize, satisfy, strengthen our bodies in the physical realm. For example a rock cannot nourish our bodies but fruit can. So for our soul there must be healthy food, full of nutrient goodness, that is beneficial to us. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”-{James 1:17}; “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. “–{John 6:35}. “Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”-{Matt 4:4};”How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”-{ Psalm 119;103}; “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, SO THAT by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good ” -{1 Peter 2:2-3}. “…nourished on the truths of the faith “-{1 Tim 4:6} “Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart…” -{Jer 15:16}; “”It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.“-{John 6:63}
As we take in spiritual food, it strengthens sustains, satisfies us, it is God’s SUSTENANCE to us, provided by God for our spiritual good our soul, to be strengthened, enlightened, empowered to know Him better and live the Christian life. In the physical realm if we go long without food or eat junk food, our body becomes weaker and weaker, so in the Spiritual inner person, if we do not Feed on Him, His Word we will be weak, immature, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the]elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”-{Heb 5:14}. His Word is compared to Food and Drink.. SUSTENANCE. Given to nourish and STRENGTHEN US SPIRITUALLY. As we partake we grow!
The thief is that, a thief, he takes, he seeks destruction, while the Shepherd provides deliverance and dispenses what is needed to sustain and satisfy the sheep.
“…I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”-{v9-10}
“The Greek word for ‘abundance,’ perissos, has a mathematical meaning and generally denotes a surplus…The abundant life is above all the contented life, in which our contentment is based upon the fact that God is equal to every emergency and is able to supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.” (Boice).
The Greek word for “abundance,” perissos,…and generally denotes a surplus. It is translated “remains.” It is illustrated by the twelve baskets of food that were left over after Jesus fed the five thousand. The picture is that there was more than enough, there was a surplus, more than enough. There were left overs and this is after everyone had been fed and “satisfied!” Not mere portion that left people hungry and wanting more but “satisfied,” And there were still more left over! – Our English word “abundance” comes from the two Latin words “ab”and “undare” which mean “to rise in waves” or “to overflow.” One wave after another – a constant flow – upon the Shore –
“Whereas Jesus Christ has come to impart life to the dead, even though
they live. He has come to overpower this present darkness, 1:5, to give
“grace upon grace,” 1:16, to “baptize in the Holy Spirit,” 1:33, to open
up the way to heaven, 1:51, to provide incomparable wine, 2:10, to
impart a second birth, 3:3, to substitute the serpent’s venom with eternal life, 3:14-16, to “speak the words of God,” 3:34, to bestow
“living water,” 4:10, to give life to the dead, 5:21, 25, to mediate
spiritual manna from heaven, 6:32-33, 51, to satisfy the thirsty, 7:37, to
give light to those in darkness, 8:12, to give sight to the spiritually
blind, 9:35-38. Is this not an abundance, a fullness, a spiritual
cornucopia or horn of plenty such as has never been presented by any
other man?” -{ anonymous}.
Abundant life is contentment In Jesus, with Jesus, because He satisfies, meets the deep deep needs of our spiritual life! Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”-{Phil 4:11-13}. The word “content” speaks of sufficiency, enough, with the implication of satisfaction, and the secret to contentment he tells us is found in the Lord Jesus!
Among the reasons Jesus came was to provide life, not mere existence but a quality of life, contented, satisfied with Him and that overflows. Note in Psalm 23 some of His provision, “The LORD is my Shepherd… I shall not lack, HE makes me lay down in green pastures, HE lead me…beside still waters…” Note, sheep will not lay down unless it is secure and the Good Shepherd does this HE PROVIDES safety and satisfaction. He is the “BREAD of Life” He is the heart’s Sustenance, Sustains, Satisfies, with Himself and the life He imparts to us! His gift is not just a new quality of life but abundance it overflows…love, joy, peace, hope, new desires, new ambitions, new goals. “New creations in Christ.” We have a new life, God the Father causing us to be “BORN AGAIN to a LIVING HOPE” through His resurrection.{1 Peter 1:3}. His “grace is sufficient” for us, even in the hard times the word “Sufficient” means “enough” with the implication of “satisfaction!” Jesus through Grace,… His kind and empowering is enough and SATISFIES! -{2 Cor :12-9-10}
Jesus promises “REST”- “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” -{Matthew 11:28-30}. Jesus Imparts PEACE – “I am leaving you with a gift–peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. “-{John 14;27 NLT }. Jesus imparts JOY – “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!“-{John 15:11 NLT}. Jesus imparts LOVE – ” And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.”- {1 Thess 3:12}. Jesus Imparts GRACE– “ For of His fullness we have all received, and Grace upon grace “-{John 1;16} GRACE THAT ABOUNDS – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” -{2 Cor 9:8}. HOPE ABOUNDS- “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. “-{Romans 15:13}. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.“-{John 6;47}; “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. “- {John 17:3};”God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. “-{1 Cor 1:9}
Jesus is SUSTENANCE. He Nourishes and Strengthens the soul. He SATISFIES, as the Psalmist said, “TASTE and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in Him!”-{Psalm 34:8 NLT}.
“…Pastures..” and “abundant life” is not speaking of abundance of material things but an abundance to satisfy the heart, the soul,the person, who has a personal relationship with the LORD as their Shepherd, “The LORD is my Shepherd I shall not want {lack}”-{Psalm 23:1}. All the spiritual needs of the heart He promises to meet! SATISFACTION that is internal, constant to all who enter through The Door of Jesus Christ!
JESUS is ” The Door,” To SALVATION
JESUS Is “The Door, ” To SECURITY
JESUS Is “The Door,” To SUSTENANCE, SATISFACTION!
Jesus is your Answer and the answer of all people. What motivation to worship and follow Him and to share with others who are seeking blindly for “Something” to Satisfy them, give them Security and rescue deliver, Save them- This is found in A PERSON – The LORD JESUS CHRIST…. our GOOD SHEPHERD!
In JESUS we find SALVATION, SECURITY, SUSTENANCE, SATISFACTION.