The MESSAGE for March 26, 2023

The Door; Jesus

John 10:6-7

Live Broadcast

By: Pastor, Rev. Dr. Cullian W. Hill

Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church

 

A door has many functions. It divides, secures, opens, and gives access. Jesus is the door! He said unto them again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:6-9) He was the way out of dead religion into life. Jesus had entered life by the right door, by the legitimate means of entry. He had been born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23); He had been born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2;  Matthew 2:4-6); He had come “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4) out of Egypt God had called his son (Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:14-15; His arrival had provoked the rage of the enemy (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18). Thus he was the right person, born in the right country, and attended by the right sign. Then said Jesus unto them again, verily, verily, I say unto you come “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:6-7). The shepherd was the door. He himself was the door. At night He led his sheep into the fold where they could rest, be secure from beasts of prey. He himself took up his place in the opening and thus became the door. No prowling animal could get in so long as he was there. No restless sheep could stray off into the night.

 

In the morning he stood aside and called his sheep out, counting and examining them, and led them in the way he wanted them to go. Jesus now proclaimed himself to be the door. By him, and by him alone the Sheep could have access to a wide world of spiritual experience Beyond the intra confines of the fold of Judaism. He is not only the door of the sheep; he is also the defender of the sheep. (10:8-15)

 

A door is for security. So, when the shepherd led the sheep out and in, he opened the door, and when they are led in he closes the door so they cannot get out and nothing can get in while they rest. Early the next morning the shepherd arises and led them out of the door or gate.

 

So, we can see the shepherd is a defender of the sheep. A false shepherd will not defend the sheep. Before Jesus came there were many false shepherds, thieves and robbers. The true Shepherd saves. (10:9) “I am the door: By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” It is through the Lord Jesus that we are saved and enter into new freedom and sure enjoyment of life. So the true Shepherd saves (10:9). The true Shepherd also secures (10:10a) . The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: “I am come that they might have life.” The thief is a threat to the Sheep. The Lord throws the mantle of his protection around them. Then the true Shepherd satisfies. But Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly- but only on his terms.

 

On His terms we each have life, now life on a higher plane, life in a land of fadeless day. But I want to remind us that there is the fearful shepherd (John 10:11-13), as in the case of the false shepherd. We must note the mark of the Heavenly Shepherd (John 10:11). I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the Sheep.” There was Abel, the righteous Shepherd; Jacob, the resourceful Shepherd; Moses, the returning Shepherd; and David, the Royal Shepherd. The Heavenly Shepherd is contrasted by Jesus with the hireling shepherd. (John 10:12-13) The hired Shepherd lacks commitment (John 10:12) “But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf catches them, and scattereth the sheep.” He lacks concern (John 10:13). The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and the careth not for the sheep.”

 

The religious leaders were those hireling shepherds. They had no real investment in the sheep. Their own power and position were all they were concerned about. When we compare the hireling to the true shepherd there is no comparison. But the true shepherd is committed. John 10:15b: “And I lay down my life for the sheep.”

 

Well, the shadow of the Cross was already on the soul of the Savior. He would be called on to lay down his life in battle with the wolves, who were already in among the sheep. His confrontation with the false shepherds would lead inevitably to his death. He had no illusions about that. He knew. His father knew. They had always known. There is full understanding, eternal understanding, between the Father and the Son. It was always understood that if God acted in creation, he would one day have to act in Redemption, and if he acted in Redemption the Son would have to come to earth and die and rise again. “No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my father.”

 

No mere man could make a claim like that. He remained silent before his accusers, although twelve Legions of Angels were ready to come to his rescue. (Matthew 26:53) He allowed himself to be crucified even as He demonstrated power enough to shake the Earth to its foundation (Matthew 27:51-52). He waited until all the necessary prophecies were fulfilled and then majestically dismissed His spirit (Luke 23:46). “When the soldiers came to break his legs and hasten his death, they discovered, he was dead already” (John 19:33). His death was voluntary, vicarious, and victorious. “I have power to take it again,” he said. And he demonstrated that literally, gloriously, once and for all, in His resurrection. O praise His holy name. He is the door! The truth and the light and life. The door is secure, he saves, it opens, and there is access. Trust Him today! I am the door! I stand at the door and knock. I’d love to come in. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)

 

Pastor, Rev. Dr. Cullian W. Hill