“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. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” – John 10:7-10

If and when someone asks you, “Who is Jesus?”, whether the question is out of ignorance from the lips of a stranger you met, or from one of your children who are learning want to know Him more, or maybe you’re in a debate/discussion with someone and the answer to this question needs a clear presentation- all of these scenarios (as well as others) provide great opportunities to give sound doctrine to those you speak to in your answer, recognizing they may truly know nothing about Him, or they may be testing you with the question. It may also be true that they believe error about Christ. They may have bought into heresy about Him and/or the Trinity that the truth will expose and Lord willing, correct as it shines light to their hearts. 

Are you ready to tell any who ask who He is and what is true about Him? Let’s continue to grow in faith, confidence, clarity and joy as we move along in our series, now considering Jesus’ third I AM statement in the Gospel of John. Indeed, Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:47-51). He is the light of the world (John 8:12). In John 10, Jesus also declares Himself to be the door. What does He mean by this?

There are several wonderful things to see in this parable as Christ speaks of Himself as both the door of the shepherd in the preceding context (vv. 1-2), as well as the door of the sheep (vv. 7-10): 

• First, see, receive, and proclaim the exclusivity of Christ as boldly and clearly as He puts it forth to you. Many of you are well familiar with Jesus’ proclamation that He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) That statement is beautifully connected to this I AM statement in John 10 that He is the door. He brings the sheep in and keeps the wolves out. You can see this by way of contrast in how many in our world today deny or fight against Christ’s exclusivity. In their rejection of Christ, they make their own soteriological game show, so to speak. As many of you know well, instead of bowing the knee to Christ and confessing Him as Lord, they make their own gods. Instead of coming to Him as the Way, they create their own paths to salvation. They make doors of their own creation to walk through. They form their own narratives of the way to and details of blissful life- both now and that to come. They think they will win in the end. Yet, the paths and doors of their choosing and design all lead to death and destruction.
• So, as you walk and learn in this life, it’s important for you to be able to tell the difference between true and false shepherds. How can you do so? Christ teaches you that the true shepherd enters the sheepfold by no other way than through the door, who is Christ. Further, there is no true sheepfold, there is no true church, but that which is gathered to Christ. Therefore, the thief sticks out like a sore thumb as he neither will, nor can go through the door. Rather, since his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, the thief seeks to climb over the fence and sneak in another way to gain access to the sheep. Now, Christ’s description about the unwanted presence of thieves and robbers that came before Christ, along with the response of the sheep to their presence in verse 8 is interesting. Notice the thieves came, but Jesus’ words seem to teach you that their tactics weren’t snatch and grab, but to lure them away audibly. Importantly, “the sheep didn’t hear them”. Jesus adds more to why this is true in His next I AM statement. 
• As Christ is the door of the shepherd and the hireling is exposed, He also declares Himself to be the door of the sheep. Take note of the definite article “the” here. It’s in the Greek. Importantly, Jesus isn’t merely “a” door among many. No, He is “the” door, the one and only door and Mediator through whom one must come for salvation and eternal life. (Matthew 7:13-14) This needs to be taught and proclaimed with courage and clarity.
• Thus, Jesus wonderfully says, “If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (v. 9) Beloved, as you have entered the fold by faith in Christ and have been saved, see that He doesn’t steal from, or harm you. Rather, Jesus blesses you with pasture as He feeds and nourishes you. He blesses you with protection and safety. He richly and abundantly gives you what you need for growth in your life now, as well as in the life to come. (v. 10) 

As we continue to make our way through Jesus’ I AM statements, I pray that you receive and are edified by the truth each statement reveals of a unique facet about who Christ is, along with the connected message that points you to Him being life and the One who gives, blesses, and sustains your life both now and forever. Amen. Praise God for His Word!