The Gate

Friday – December 13

Advent Reading: John 10:7-10

Gates or doors are very important and sometimes even vital parts of a building or enclosed area. That is how we and anything else gets into and out of the area we are concerned with.  The words are ingress or egress. However, that is not all gates/doors are vital for. They are also important from the aspect of protection. They are the way in, the way out, and provide protection for whatever is in the confined area.

This name or “face” or description of Jesus is certainly one of the better known descriptions of who Jesus is. John’s Gospel is famous in part for The “Great I Ams” of Jesus, including this one. All seven “I Ams” are included in this series of Advent devotionals. It is certain no list of His names would be complete without them. These are His own declarations of who He is according to the Apostle John.

It wouldn’t be difficult at all for each of us at this point to take pen or pencil in hand and write down all the ways this description of Jesus as The Gate or Door could have impact on us individually and even collectively. We are not talking merely about an opening but a space that can also be closed off to keep things in or out of the area that concerns us. At the beginning of the 10^th chapter of John’s Gospel, Jesus is talking about a shepherd’s responsibility for the sheep in the sheepfold. He then goes on to say that He is the Gate/Door. A few verses later on he states He is the Good Shepherd. In fact, He states it twice – in verses 11 and 14. Often a sheepfold was simply a walled in area with an opening for the sheep and shepherd to go in and out. The shepherd was often actually the “gate” as he would lay across the opening to prevent sheep from coming back out or anything or anyone dangerous from getting into the sheepfold to harm the sheep. Jesus actually had a lot to say about sheep and His relationship to them. I think that would make a good Bible study all by itself!

What about this “face” of Jesus! How does this description of Jesus as The Gate impact you? Have you recognized His great desire to protect and defend you? How does this speak to His great love for you? We are the sheep of His pasture, of His sheepfold, so He is always there to watch over us. When Jesus calls any of us to be “under-shepherds” and work for Him in caring for His sheep (God’s people); are our responsibilities any different, except perhaps in intensity remembering His role as Shepherd over each one as well? It can be odd thinking of us as both sheep and shepherds, can’t it?  Whether or not we recognize it, we are all (as believers) both sheep and shepherd. God often uses any of us to mentor and help other believers mature in the faith. But, the important thing here today for this devotional is that Jesus is The Gate.  Is He really your gate? Or, are you trying to be your own gate? Let Jesus be The Gate and you can focus on being the very best sheep you can be with your Shepherd’s help!