I Am The Gate

[foxjj]

I Am The Gate

Although the main message concerning Jesus being the Gate, or as some versions state the Door, onto Righteousness is found in John chapter 10, the context begins at the end of John chapter 9, following the miracle of Jesus giving sight to a man born blind. The Pharisees were in denial of the genuineness of the healing, therefore blind to the revelation Jesus was displaying through His ministry, that is; He was from Yahweh:

“39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” - John 9:39-41 (NIV)

Because of their conceited attitude towards the ministry of Jesus, the Pharisees rejected the Gospel of Grace exhibited by Him. Consequently, although they claimed superior spiritual knowledge, they were blind to the truth that Jesus was fulfilling Yahweh’s promise of Messiahship.
The result of rejecting Jesus is to remain in sin - in other words - their guilt remains. In John 5:39-40 Jesus said to the Pharisees: “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Jesus teaching of being the only entrance into Righteousness continues in chapter 10, where He uses the metaphor of a sheepfold:

“1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:1-10 (NIV)

The gate of righteousness was a common theme in Scripture, therefore the people would have had an understanding of this terminology. As an example Psalm 118:19-20:

“Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.”

The people of God are often referred to as a flock. An example would be Psalm 77:20: “You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

The religious leaders were often referred to as shepherds, of which all were not faithful. In Jeremiah 23:1-4 we read how Yahweh warned against false shepherds, promising to send faithful shepherds:

“1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2 Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the LORD. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing, ” declares the LORD.”

The great assurance of knowing Jesus as the one and only way of Salvation is validated in verse 9: “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” It is critically important for us to understand that Redemption - Salvation - is not found or obtained through religion. There is only one Redeemer/Savior; Jesus Christ who stated: “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”- John 8:24.

In Romans 5:6-8 Paul wrote these assuring words:

“6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Son of God came among us revealing the love of The Father through His remarkable ministry. Suffered rejection and abuse from the religious leaders, which eventually led to His death. However, three days later His resurrection demonstrated that The Father accepted the Atoning Sacrifice for sin Jesus had offered on behalf of you and I. We now have the opportunity to repent, and accept His Divine gift of Redemption, thereby entering The Kingdom - God’s unique sheep fold.

Today, let us rejoice in our Salvation through Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.