The Door to the Sheepfold

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to 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 comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:7-18 ESV). We’re constantly bombarded with bad news on newscast after newscast. It’s disconcerting to say the least. The harsh reality of the daily news challenges those who believe that man is inherently good and the world is getting better. The Bible tells us the truth. Human beings are not innately good and kind, and society is not progressing toward universal peace and harmony. Man’s sin is a constant reality and if we don’t want to believe it, we can just ignore the news and refuse to lock our doors at night.

It is into this kind of bad news world that the message of Jesus rings clearest and loudest. In our reading today Jesus pictures himself as the “door to the sheepfold.” The picture is one of protection and security in the midst of the turmoil and danger of circumstance and trial. In Jesus’ day the shepherd would lead his flock to the enclosure he had made for the night and to insure their safety, he would sleep across the gate. He became a human “door.” The sheep would not be able to wander off into the night where they would have no defense; and, the predators would not be able to get into the enclosure without going through the shepherd. This is the good news for us. God is in control of history and anyone who acknowledges his need for God in Christ holds the key to inner peace and security. For in Christ, whether we live or die, we can’t lose. Christ gives us the key to eternal life and living this life victoriously. He has already won over our greatest enemy. Even death cannot threaten us as we find our security in him. He insured it by his death, burial, and resurrection. Now, that’s good news!