Jesus famously described himself as “the good shepherd”, but perhaps less well remembered is that he also called himself the gate: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” (John 10:7)
These images shouldn’t be put in opposition to one another – as if we are looking at a diagram of a sheep pen on a hillside, and each bit has an allegorical meaning. If that were the case, it would be very confusing for Jesus to be both the gate and the shepherd. Rather, these descriptions describe different aspects of what Jesus is for the sheep.
As the gate, he is the one through whom entrance to the sheepfold is found. In other words he is the way in to the security of eternal life with God:
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.” (10:9)
There is only one way to find life, one way to enjoy spiritual security, one way to enter into the kingdom of God – through Jesus.
“The thief only comes to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (10:10) All the other things, people and ideologies that promise to give us ‘life’ actually take from us. False Gods and false saviours don’t serve us, they take from us; they don’t provide for us, they need us to keep sacrificing to them. (cf Acts 17:24-25) Jesus on the other hand came that we may have life – and have it to the full. This undoubtedly has connotations of salvation and eternal life – see the word “saved” in v9 – but it is not restricted to that. The picture here is of abundance and joy and fellowship with Jesus that transforms even life now – there is nothing stingy about the life that those who come to Jesus receive.
The second image continues the idea. Not only is Jesus the gate through which people enter into life, he is also the shepherd who looks after them and guides them. Jesus as the “good shepherd” brings to fulfilment the promise made to David in our reading in 1 Chronicles. God promised David, the shepherd-king (1 Chron 17:7) a greater son who would reign on David’s throne forever. (1 Chron 17:11-14) Jesus, like the kings in the Old Testament, shepherds and guides his people. But as the last and greatest shepherd, he also died for them:
“The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” (John 10:11) This is the source of the abundant life that the sheep enjoy! Jesus could only give us life, because he first gave his life. No other god would die for us, and so no other god can provide for us!
Lets dwell on these images. Jesus is the gate by which we may enter the safety of the sheepfold of the kindgom of God, and through which we may go to find pasture. He is the way to security and life – abundant life!
Jesus is the shepherd, who guides and protects us. He is the strong, tough warrior who defends us from wolves. He is the one who leads us beside still waters and gives us rest. Unlike all the false shepherds and false saviours that we so often give our time and service to, he will not let us down. These false shepherds only take from us, but Jesus gives. These false shepherds don’t love us, but Jesus loved us even to death. Life, and grace and abundance and joy are found in him, our shepherd-king who reigns forever over his wonderful kingdom of righteousness. Lets delight in him! Lets praise him! Let’s give our devotion to him, and find our security in him, and give thanks that his goodness and mercy will surely pursue us all the days of our life, until we dwell in the house of the Lord forever! (Psalm 23:6)
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