I am the Door of the Sheep

Seven times John records Jesus giving Himself an “I Am” name.  Each one describes an aspect of our relationship with Him; how we should view Jesus and relate to Him.  Each also provides a glimpse of what Jesus offers to all faithful and obedient believers.  May you be enriched and blessed as you study these names and discover what He offers to you each day.

The third “I am” name Jesus gave Himself is found in John 10:7b; “I am the door of the sheep.”

Take a moment to ponder what this name Jesus gave Himself means to you today.  Each name indicates a human need He alone can meet.  What do you think the human need is that He alone can meet as the “door of the sheep” for mankind?

First, you might be wondering: What does this phrase even mean; what is He talking about?

To understand this quote, you need to know the setting.  In chapter nine, Jesus healed a blind man…and that upset everything!  The Pharisees were incensed.

Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath; which was against their religious laws, according to the Pharisees.  For this infraction, they called Jesus a “sinner” (vs. 9:24) and accused Him of being from Satan (vs. 9:16).

In response to this debate with the Pharisees, Jesus begins talking about sheep and sheep pens (beginning of chapter ten).  Very clearly He says the one who enters by the pen door is the rightful shepherd of the sheep; others who climb in “some other way” are thieves and robbers.  The people listening (including the Pharisees) understood Jesus was talking about Himself and the Pharisees.

So why would a thief or robber enter the sheep pen?  Perhaps for many reasons, but none good: to steal a sheep; to harm the sheep.  The thief and robber operate based on purely selfish motives.

The shepherd, though, cares for the sheep.  He protects them, willing to lay down his life for them.  Jesus calls Himself “the good shepherd” (vs. 10:14), and thus He is!  But why call Himself the door?

As the door, Jesus is the access point for sheep – for them to come into the pen for safety, security, protection and rest; and to go out through for green pastures and meadows.  Just as Jesus is the ONE WAY for any person to come into God’s presence and to ultimately reside with Him for eternity.

Jesus is our door – if we believe in Him – to righteousness, blessed life, forgiveness of sin, joyful living… for all things good.  He is the entrance we must pass through to enter God’s throne room, to have our prayers heard, and to someday be welcomed into Heaven.

One other thing you might want to know:  Sheep are notoriously dumb animals.  They wander off; with their heads down munching grass they easily become lost.  They’re just not bright.  Yet, even sheep know the voice of their shepherd.  They recognize it and come to him when called.  Maybe even better than many of us do the voice of God, they hear and respond.

Interesting note:¹

What is the sheep pen?  In this parable, what does the sheep pen represent?  And, who are these different sheep in the pen?

An actual first-century pen was a place of security, not a place for intruders.  Such a pen would likely have been either circular or square, constructed like a high stone fence or wall.  The entrance would have been the only break in the wall, and once the sheep were safely in at night, the watchman/guard would lie down at the opening, serving both as protector and as the gate.  Indeed, Jesus states in this passage that He is the door to the pen.

Certainly, Jesus’ first-century listeners clearly would have understood his statements about a sheep pen.  They would know how it worked, and would have understood the constant threat from thieves.  Even with first-hand experience and background though, they still did not understand the point of this parable.

I believe the parable encompasses all of God’s people.  All of mankind is under attack from the thief that seeks to destroy – Satan.  But God’s people, the Jews and the Church, are under intense attack from this same enemy.  It is Jesus, and He alone, that guards over the sheep pen…who guards over the people of God.

With Jesus at the door, we can trust His protection…as long as we are in the pen!

¹  Parts of this section taken from:  Gangel, Kenneth O.; Max Anders, gen. ed.  Holman New Testament Commentary: John  (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), pg. 194-195.