Jesus, Our Shepherd and Provider

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:7-9).

Jesus used two powerful “I am” statements to show his full provision for us: “I am the gate” and “I am the good shepherd.” In ancient days, the shepherd often slept before the gate so as to provide protection for the sheep. Jesus provides us with the greatest protection against eternal destruction. It was the shepherd’s responsibility to make sure his sheep were led to a plentiful pasture. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, has provided us with abundant life.

From the vantage point of the Resurrection and two thousand years of church history, our position is almost exactly the reverse of what Jesus’ listeners experienced. We understand better what Jesus meant, but are largely unfamiliar with the shepherding scene he described.
The challenge for us is to take Jesus’ self-description seriously. He called himself the gate and the Good Shepherd. He is the entry point and the caring master. Have you responded to his voice and followed him?

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.