I AM the Gate

Introduction
When I was preparing for today’s sermon, I was awe-struck with the whole spirit of Christmas. Not many of us would have the experience to celebrate Christmas with our family and friends like I have. At last count, I had nine Christmas parties/dinner to attend in just these two weeks. I had to miss one or two because they had clashed on the same day. In this season of Christmas, I also celebrated the joy of marriage with three wedding couples in the month of Dec alone, with Ezra, my eldest son being the page boy for two of them. The whole season was filled with much joy and happiness. And like most Singaporeans, we enjoy any celebration with much glorious food. Thus, it was really difficult to write my sermon when my mind was still thinking about the wonderful turkey porridge made by my mother-in-law, or the hand-made home-made pizza at my friend’s house the other day. Hmmm…drool… Oh yes, back to the post-Christmas message. The reason for the season is about Jesus and the message today is also about Jesus. The good old simple message of the Gospel. We are so familiar with the Gospel message that sometimes, its significance may be lost on us. Let’s not forget that at the core of our faith, the message of salvation is pure and simple. Let’s take some time to think about this message again. And hopefully, we can find a new perspective on this old simple truth about our Lord.

The passage today took place after an incident when Jesus had healed a man who had been blind from birth. When the disciples asked him whose sin had led to his blindness, Jesus replied that it was neither his nor his parents. He was blind so that “the work of God might be displayed in his life” (John 9:3). The blind man was healed by Jesus with mud and saliva. But never for a moment, think that it was the mud or the saliva which had healed him. They were simply instrument or tools for which the blind man could experience healing. Ultimately, it was God who had healed him through Jesus. This miracle had happened on a Sabbath. This raised a controversy among the Jews. The OT laws forbade anyone to work on Sabbath. The Pharisees investigated the incident with the blind man. What Jesus had displayed as grace became seen as work by an individual. Under questioning, the ex-blind man replied, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25). This reply became the signature line (was blind but now I see) in the popular hymn, Amazing Grace, written in 1779 (230 years ago) by an English Anglican clergyman and poet, John Newton.

Jesus is the gate and our shepherd who provides pastoral care
In response to the Pharisees Jesus told this parable about the shepherd and the sheep in the passage today.
John 10:1-3 “I tell you the truth, the man 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 man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.

In the parable, there are many characters: shepherd, sheep, thieves and robbers, watchman, gate, etc. But not every character or details in a parable has a direct link to something significant. Those who came in through by other way, either from the house windows or through the roof, were described by Jesus as thieves and robbers. Little is confirmed about who the thieves or the robbers refer to, but it was certain that they do not refer to people of different religions. It is likely that Jesus mentioned them in reference to the Pharisees, for they were trying to attain salvation through obedience to the Laws. That is why it was important for them to investigate if Jesus had broken the commandment to not “work” on the Sabbath. This is why the Pharisees made a distinction between being a disciple of Jesus and being disciples of Moses, as the latter represents the OT Law (John 9:28). This is also why Jesus intentionally healed the blind man on a Sabbath. It is to challenge and to correct their understanding of what it means to rest in the Lord.

In v. 8, Jesus said, “All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.” Jesus may be referring to those before him who had falsely claimed to be Israel’s Messiah, the so-called messianic pretenders. They had promised their followers freedom but instead led them to armed conflict and doom. They are no different from the modern-day cult leaders who have led many astray (e.g. Joseph Smith’s Mormonism, Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church in Korea, David Koresh’s Branch Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist, L. Ron Hubbard’s Church of Scientology). Examples of these messianic pretenders can also be found in the NT, Acts 5:36-37.

36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.

Some have suggested that the watchman or the gate-keeper may refer to the Holy Spirit. This is quite interesting when we consider the Spirit prompting us to open our hearts to allow Jesus into our lives. The gate-keeper kept watch and only allow the shepherd to enter into the sheep-pen. This explanation makes sense only when we see the watchman and the shepherd as two persons. But when in v. 7, Jesus proclaim as being the gate for the sheep and in so doing, the shepherd takes up also the role of the gate-keeper. It is no longer necessary to identify the gate-keeper as the Holy Spirit.

There is only one way into the sheep-pen, that is, through the gate or the door. In those days, sheep-pens were built directly linked to the side of the main house. They may or may not have a formal gate or door, which is why the entrance is often guarded by a gatekeeper. The gate-keeper or the shepherd himself would guard the entrance, preventing the sheep from leaving and the wolves from entering. In the parable, Jesus identifies himself as both the shepherd and the gate.

In v. 9, Jesus repeated his proclamation as the gate. He said, “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[c] He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” While in v. 11, Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd.” The two imageries cannot be understood apart from each other. Jesus is both the gate and the good shepherd. What do these two imageries mean? The gate represents the way to salvation. Jesus as the good shepherd represents pastoral care. Only through Jesus, is salvation possible. Jesus as the good shepherd protects us from harm. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. By his death on the cross, we are saved. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (v.10)

There is no doubt that the main characters in the parable today are the shepherd and the sheep. These seven metaphorical “I AM” sayings in John do not simply reveal who Jesus is, but more specifically reveal who Jesus is in relationship to those who follow him. He is not just a shepherd, but a shepherd to his sheep. The identity of Jesus and the identity of the community that gathers around him are strongly linked. The shepherd’s relationship with his sheep is of utmost importance. Jesus is our “pastor”. The word, “pastor” in Latin, means “shepherd”. As a shepherd, he cares for his sheep. He provides pastoral care unlike the Pharisees who doubted the blind man’s healing. As our Lord and Saviour, he lays down his life for each and every one of us.

We are his sheep who listens only to the voice of our shepherd and follows him
"The life of Christianity consists of possessive pronouns" says Martin Luther, the Reformer. It is one thing to say, "Christ is a Saviour"; it is quite another thing to say, "He is my Saviour and my Lord." The devil can say the first; the true Christian alone can say the second.

It is not uncommon for Christians to proclaim, “Jesus is Lord!” There are tons of worship songs which we proudly proclaim such a declaration. As Christians, we must firmly declare such a profound statement of truth. Jesus is the gate to life. There is no doubt that Jesus is also our good shepherd. But are we like sheep that have gone astray? Have we been faithful to his calling? Have we really listen to his voice and follow him wherever he leads? Jesus knows us by our names. He knows us personally.

Recently, my second son, Eden, has been waking up about 4-5 times, almost every night. We suspect he is teething. When he cries, my wife would be the first to wake up. She calls it maternal instinct. I suffer from paternal inertia. After some brutal nudging from Shih-Huei in the middle of the night, I soon realise that I should be getting up too. Sometimes, Ezra would be having nightmares and even though his cry is very different from Eden’s, we are able to tell their cries apart. Their hunger cry is different from their sleepy cry. Every cry, every voice is distinct. In a crowded room full of other children, no matter how loud or noisy the room is, most parents would easily recognise their own children’s voice or cry. That is how we should also recognise the voice of our Lord Jesus, the good shepherd. This can only come from a deep personal relationship with our Lord.

At times, we may mistake the voice of a stranger for the voice of our Saviour. Some of these voices in life may distract us from listening to the voice of Jesus. What have we been doing in our daily lives that pull us further away from our Lord? As each passing day, do we sense the personal leading of our shepherd? Of course, there may be times when the shepherd leads us in silence. In fact, it is not often we hear the shepherd speak. But yet, he leads his sheep in and out of the sheep-pen every single day, into the green pasture. The presence of the pasture reminds us that our God provides for our every need.

Salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ who laid down his life for us all
The imagery of the shepherd and the sheep in the Bible is also another way to describe the relationship between the king and his people. In the modern world, we do not think of rulers and leaders in the same way. When we think about the CEOs or the presidents of banks or big multi-national companies, the big boss of the boss, we think of them as authoritative, control freaks, serious, and demanding. Donald Trump comes to mind, “You’re fired!” When we think of those in authority today, the image of a shepherd would not be our first mental picture. But the true king in the Bible is one who is willing to lay down his life for his people, like how a good shepherd would for his sheep. It is through this image of a shepherd and the sheep which Jesus wants to tell us about what kind of king he is. He is a self-denying, life-giving, true king of Israel.

This is how we should think about Jesus. The good shepherd gave his life willingly for us all, in order that we may live. He came so that we may have life, and have it to the fullest. I hope that this Christmas, we are able to see Jesus as more than a baby in the manger, he is also the gate to salvation and the good shepherd who cares so much for his sheep as to be crucified on the cross for our sake. He is our Lord! We are his sheep. Salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ who laid down his life for us all.

D.L. Moody, a famous 18th century American evangelist sums up in a little story of what it means to be saved:
The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise.

This gift of God is offered to us all. Have we received it in gratitude? Or, have we left it outside the door of our hearts? John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The main focus in this famous verse is neither about our belief nor eternal life, but about God’s love. For too long, we have placed the emphasis of our salvation on our belief, our decision, and our response. It is true that those who believe will be saved. I am not denying this. But can the emphasis be brought back to God’s love? This love is self-sacrificing, in suffering and in death. No other religion beside Christianity would speak of a God who would lay down his life for his people. My assurance of salvation is not on my own personal belief, but on what Christ has accomplished on the cross. He is the gate to salvation! Because of what Christ has done, I place my faith in him who laid down his life for me. It is not my faith which saves me, but the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, in obedience to the will of the Father.

Conclusion
Being in paradise is about being with our Lord for the rest of eternity. Our new life with Christ begins when we surrender our old life to him. In trust and in total obedience, we are like sheep who knows the voice of the good shepherd. In conclusion, I think it is most appropriate to end today’s sermon with one of my favourite Psalms. I am sure it is a favourite for many of us too. Familiar as it may, I pray that as we read it, we also meditate deeply on its words once again, allowing it to refresh us anew. Put yourself in the sheep’s clothing, pretend you are one when you are reading this psalm. No other psalm captures the intimacy and trust between the shepherd and his sheep as beautifully as this. Psalm 23, a psalm of David, who was once also a little shepherd boy who became one of Israel’s most important king. Let’s read it together.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Let us pray.

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a Or kept safe