The Gatekeeper of our Life 2 – John 10:1-10

As the world changes and as our faith once more comes under increased scrutiny and criticism, it is imperative that we understand who Jesus is, what he came to tell us and what that means for our life today and in eternity. The Gospel of John was written for the express purpose of explaining who Jesus is. John declares him to be the One who was at the beginning of creation, the One we know as the Word of God, the One whose spirit moved over the face of what would come to be the place that we now inhabit. He then goes on to tell us that through Jesus, those who choose to believe are given the power to become children of God – not begotten as Jesus is begotten but adopted and received by God.  But that adoption and reception that each of us receives comes because of the willingness of Jesus to stand in our place, to allow his blood to be spilled and his body made lifeless.  As the lamb sacrificed that the angel of death might pass over the people of Israel, Jesus would be that lamb but not just for a moment in time but for all time.  His sacrifice would not just forestall the power of death to end our life; his sacrifice would ensure that the power of death to hold those who commit their lives to God would be broken and the promise of everlasting life in the presence of God would become a reality. We believe in the resurrection of the body as witnessed by the disciples and the testimony that has been preserved for us.

The invitation of Jesus for us to follow and have faith in his message and promise is illustrated by John in many different ways.  Ancient Palestine was a largely agrarian society.  It consisted mainly of small villages. There were some larger centres with the biggest being Jerusalem.  Because farming and fishing were such large components of life, it made perfect sense that Jesus would use images that people could relate to when seeking for people to listen to his message and put their faith and trust in his promises.

In today’s events as told by John, we read that Jesus declared himself to be the Good Shepherd.  For the people of that day and time, sheep and shepherds were very much a part of their everyday life. It would be very common in the countryside to find flocks of sheep and the enclosures where the sheep could be kept safe when not out in the fields feeding.  People would have been familiar with the role of the shepherd and they would have been aware of the necessity for the shepherd to safeguard the sheep while in their enclosures.

Jesus knew that being a shepherd was a full-time occupation.  At least one shepherd needed to always be awake at any hour of the day or night and that applied not only to their time out in the fields but also to the times when the sheep would be gathered near the villages.  Shepherds needed to get supplies just like anyone else, so they depended on gatekeepers to provide security for their flocks until they were able to return and take the flocks out to pasture.   As there is only one way in and one way out of the sheepfold, the sheep are as safe as they can be. Jesus uses this imagery to help the people begin to understand how he views his role and responsibility. Jesus likens himself to the gate of the sheepfold. He remains at the only access point to the sheepfold like a shepherd would, helping to ensure that the sheep could not leave without him knowing about it – and even more ensuring the safety and care of the sheep.

Now think about this in terms of our own lives.  As disciples and followers of God in Christ, we have been described by Jesus as the flock of God. We are surrounded by a sheepfold that is not made of wood or stone or brick. We are in the everlasting arms of God the Father, guarded by Jesus the Son and given assurances through the presence of the Holy Spirit.   We enter this sanctuary when we accept the invitation of God in Christ to come and be his people.  When we pass through the gate to this sanctuary we are met by the One who was sent to reassure us that we are loved by God, forgiven by God and strengthened by God.  Whatever fears we may have, whatever pain or suffering or heartaches or disappointments we have encountered in the world, this invisible sanctuary becomes for us the place where we can feel that peace that comes from God through Jesus – a peace that passes understanding, a peace that the world cannot give.

But the image of Jesus as the Gatekeeper is only one of the images Jesus shows us to describe how we can find his presence in our lives. Through   the many images that John records of Jesus, we are reminded that our lives are precious to him and that his desire to be with us never ends no matter what.  He shows us that he is conscious of us and ever willing to be there for us and with us no matter where life takes us.  He is for us a sanctuary in times of trouble, but he is also for us a companion on this journey of life wherever our steps may take us.

We learn from John that Jesus is not only the gate for the sheepfold, but he is also the sheepfold itself, and he is the Shepherd. He seeks to guard us in thought and action wherever we may be.  We enter the sheepfold because we are willing to accept his care and his guidance, to accept his love and his direction in life.

May we ever desire to be the people of God, the sheep of his pasture. May we continue to rely on our Lord to be the gatekeeper of our lives and may we never forget to come to our Lord for green pastures to nourish us and clear water to refresh us.

May the love of the Father who made us, the love of the Son who died for us and the love of the Spirit who dwells within us, bless us and keep us.

And may we never forget that God desires us to be his adopted children and that wherever we go, we go in the name of and with the companionship of the One we know as the Good Shepherd.  AMEN