In John 10:9 Jesus refers to himself as the gate (or the door in some translations). Here’s the full passage:

“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

To understand what Jesus is saying here, we must add some context to a few things.

1)   Before Jesus, many of the Pharisees were believed to be the closest to God because of their ability to keep the Mosaic law. They were seen as the gatekeepers to God. The problem was instead of using their knowledge to help the rest of the people find God; they used it to oppress the people and keep people away from God. The way to God was by keeping the law. But they added to it and in doing that they were able to decide who was worthy and who wasn’t. Shoker most people weren’t in their minds.

2) There were a lot of shepherds during that time. When the shepherds would go out with the sheep to find food and water, they sometimes were kept in a sheepfold overnight. Those were giant enclosed rock formations with only one way in and one way out. Since the sheepfold didn’t have an actual gate; the shepherd himself would act as the gate to keep the sheep in the fold.

Now with those things in mind. What is Jesus saying? He’s saying that he is the gate into God’s sheepfold. He is the only way anyone can enter the fold and find salvation. Entering God’s sheepfold is where life is found and Jesus offers that to us. All are welcome in the fold through him. As he’s speaking the people he also addresses the Pharisees. He called anyone who came before him a ‘thief and a robber.” Why? Because they were trying to make a different way into the fold. They only wanted to benefit themselves by lying, stealing, and destroying. This is actually what the devil does and Jesus at many points referred to the Pharisees as influenced by the devil. For example, in John 8:44 Jesus says that the Pharisees are of their father the devil

So what’s the point? It doesn’t take long to find some influencer on social media trying to tell you where life is found. They might not word it that way, but the implication is clear. Once you have “X” amount of money, this relationship, this job, this in-shape body, etc. you’ll finally be happy! You’ll finally have the life you want! The only thing is that so many people give their lives fighting for that and end up empty. People like Brad Pitt or Tom Brandy were at the peak of success and still felt like something was missing. This happens in religious circles as well. When a leader is selling the way to heaven by donating more money or “being more holy.” These are different examples of trying to enter the sheepfold through a different way and not through the gate.

In the sermon on the mount (Mat. 5-7) Jesus gives another picture; but this time of two gates. A wide one that leads to destruction and a Narrow one that leads to life. The context is a bit different but I want to try and tie these together. Jesus says “Enter through the narrow gate” because that’s the one that leads to life. Interestingly enough Jesus also says that he is the gate to find pasture and life to the full. Don’t take the wide gate and don’t try to find another way in. But, enter through Jesus who freely offers you salvation!