Bible Passage: John 10:1-10
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: April 30, 2023

Bulletin April 30, 2023

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

In order to understand our text this morning, we need to have an understanding of how sheep were cared for at the time of Jesus.  During the day, flocks of sheep would be out on the hills grazing under the watch and protection of a shepherd.  But at night, shepherds might lead their flock to a pen.  This pen would be enclosed all around by a stone wall, high enough that sheep could not climb or jump over it.  This large, open-air pen would be large enough that a number of flocks could be kept in there overnight together.  In one of the stone walls there would be the one opening into the pen.  All the sheep would file in through this one opening.  And overnight, while the respective shepherds slept, the opening would be watched by a watchman. 

 Got that picture in your mind?  Now, zero in on that opening.  That opening, that gate, that door is what Jesus wants you to think about as he speaks our text this morning.  Here is the lesson Jesus teaches.  He, Jesus, is the Door…for Shepherds and for Sheep.

 Why does Jesus speak this way?  Context is key to understanding what Jesus is talking about in the first part of John 10.  In John 9 Jesus healed a man who had been born blind.  This is a wonderful thing, you say!  Who would possibly be upset by such mercy!  The Pharisees were.  They were upset that Jesus did this miracle on a Sabbath Day.  For them, Jesus had broken Sabbath.  He had worked.

 So they had launched an investigation into the healing.  They had called witnesses and interrogated them about the incident.  They wanted the details.  When it came out that Jesus had done the miracle, they said, This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath. (John 9:16)  The man whom Jesus healed said to the leaders, If this man were not from God he could do nothing. (9:33)  At this, the leaders’ blew a gasket!  You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us! (9:34, NIV)  And then it says, And they threw him out. (9:34)  They excommunicated the man!  This man who was one of God’s sheep, who gave glory to the God’s Son for healing him, was thrown out of the “flock” by those who were supposed to be “shepherds.” 

 These leaders showed themselves to be the thieves and robbers Jesus spoke about.  They had climbed over the wall to get access to God’s sheep.  They rejected Jesus!  They wanted nothing to do with the gate.  Look at the damage the poor soul Jesus healed.  They rob him of his faith and joy in Jesus!  They would take away this man’s place as part of the flock and people of God.  They would kill this man’s soul.  Jesus described them, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. (v. 10)  They had no business tending God’s sheep because they didn’t go through the gate, Jesus.

 There is a larger lesson in Jesus’ words.  Today, there are those who have gained access to God’s flock who have no business in the sheep pen!  There are preachers and teachers in Christian churches who have not come through the gate.  They do not believe in Jesus, they do not care for Jesus, they do not come in the name of Jesus.  They have scrambled over the stone wall.  They are there to steal, kill, and destroy.  They steal hope and comfort and forgiveness and peace from the sheep because they do not give the sheep Jesus.  Maybe they steal the wool of the sheep to make themselves rich.  They kill the souls of men and destroy all hope of eternal life. 

In contrast to these no-goods who steal and kill and destroy, Jesus puts forward the shepherd who enters through the gate.  Here is the pastor and caretaker of men’s souls!  The one who goes through the gate, the one who loves Jesus, who comes through Jesus, who brings Jesus.  The watchman of the gate says, “Good morning!  Go right in!”  He calls to the sheep.  Name by name, he calls them.  His own come to him.  He leads them out.  He leads them to the nourishing pasture of God’s Word.  He leads them to the living water of Jesus’ forgiveness and love.  In our church body, we call our “professional clergy” pastors.  Pastor means “shepherd.”  May our pastors always be what Jesus describes!  Men who come through, in the name of, Jesus!  To this day, Jesus is the door…for shepherds!

At this point in our text, John tells us, Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. (v. 6)  So Jesus says plainly, I am the door for the sheep. (v. 7)  It is only THROUGH Jesus that the sheep find blessing.  Jesus says, Whoever enters through me will be saved.  He will come in and go out, and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that may have life, and have it to the full. (v. 9-10)  Once again, Jesus draws our eyes to that door, that gate.  Do you see it?  Sheep are passing through it coming in for safety through the night.  They pass through it in the morning going out to pasture.  Whether for protection or provision, it comes only passing THROUGH THE GATE…Jesus.

Do you see yourself passing through the gate?  It is only when you pass through Jesus that you can say, He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. (Psalm 23:2-3)  It is only through Jesus that we can say at the end of our days, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (v. 4)  We might say, “Your cross and your tomb, they comfort me.” Our Good Shepherd laid down his life for his wayward sheep.  We are forgiven.  He took up his life again.  Through Jesus we have perfect provision and perfect protection in life and in death.  Jesus says of his sheep, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (v. 10)

And that is what you have, dear friends.  You come in and you go out through Jesus.  What a life you have!  Through Jesus you have life filled to the brim and sloshing over!  Through Jesus, you have life to the full. 

Amen.