WHO JESUS SAID HE WAS

I continue today with the seven statements in the gospel of John, where Jesus tells who he thought (knew, said) he was. We have looked at "I am the bread of life," and "I am the light of the world." Now today to the third, "I am the gate (or door)."

John 10:1-9. (Especially verses 7 & 9) "7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ... 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture." (NIV--See biblegateway.com)

A gate is a passageway, a door, a way into and out of something. This passage in John 10 is about sheep and pastures and storage places for sheep. Jesus compares Himself to a gate to the sheepfold for His sheep. He compares people to sheep. Often in Bible times, several shepherds would put their sheep into the same sheepfold (storage space) as other shepherds. But a person may act as "gate" or "doorkeeper." This would be a person who would protect the sheep from going out, but also from others (wolves, other wild animals, thieves) from coming in. Jesus described Himself here as that.

But He turns the picture into a sheepfold that is a place of salvation and a place of spiritual sustenance (food, water, bread). So He is building on some of the other descriptions and metaphors that He has already given in John about Himself.

He is here stating that the "one who enters through me will be saved." In other words, there is an ultimate "saving" found in Him, but He is the gate or door to it.

He will later make this statement even more bold in John 14:6 (looked at later).

What is salvation? It is something worth having, and it is something that Jesus is the door or key for. It is something worth investigating further to find out what it is and how to obtain it. Apparently, Jesus says He is a gate to God and relationship with God Himself.

I need protection against the wolves of the world. I need protection from myself straying (see also Psalm 23 and the idea of the "rod and staff".)

Jesus believes something profound here--He is the door to God and His best. Others have thought they were this, but the writer of the gospel of John believes that Jesus did not just say it. He actually proved that He was the door by His actions, His life, His miracles, and His end and beginning.

I believe I have entered that door. I have found that food and water--that sustenance. I have found and experienced God through this Gate--Jesus. I have found that saving.

Have you? And, if not, will you look further at Jesus' teachings and life from the gospel of John? Will you consider all that John (who personally knew Jesus) said that Jesus said and did?

The one who enters through Him will be saved and find pasture. He is the gate!