John 10:7-10 - Lesson #101

While speaking to a group of Jewish leaders, Jesus used the commonly understood illustration of a shepherd to explain that He was the one sent to lead, protect and comfort. He was the true shepherd who cared for the sheep, not a false leader - a thief - who only wanted sheep for his own destructive purposes. But even though His illustration was clear, "they did not understand the things which He spoke" (John 10:6). So Jesus continued His explanation.

John 10:7-10
"Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear 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 does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.'"

Jesus shifted from being the shepherd to being the door, and will shift back to being the good shepherd in verse 11. It's possible that Jesus was making a reference to the way a shepherd might lay down in front of the entrance to the sheepfold and become the door, but it's also likely He was simply changing illustrations while making the same point. He is the only true shepherd who can lead the sheep and He is the only way through which the sheep can be led: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

The door is the only way to enter the safety and comfort of the sheepfold, and the only way to go out to find pasture; "He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:2-3). It's important to see that Jesus is using the illustration of entering the door as the only way to be saved. But it's also important to see His development about what it really means to be saved.

We never want to neglect the eternal aspect of salvation. In salvation we are moved from death to life, from darkness to light, and this is a positional reality which lasts for all eternity. When we enter through the door by faith in Jesus Christ we are forever allowed into the presence of God. But there is also a current aspect of salvation which is often ignored. Our salvation is a restoration to the relationship with God which existed before the first sin in the garden. Full restoration will not occur until Heaven, but we can begin to live according to a restored and abundant life, right now!

What is the more abundant life? How about free access to His pastures and the fullness of life, to satisfaction and perfect guidance; "We are His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3). God's abundance provides ALL, and much more than we need; "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (John 8:32). Let's enter through the only door of Jesus. Let's follow Him to green pastures and begin to live the abundant life.