3/6 - Simply Jesus - the Door and the Good Shepherd

Revelations 3:17-19

Sermon: Jesus, the Door and the Good Shepherd

(Based on John 10:7-18)

John 10:7–18 NIV

Therefore Jesus said again, “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. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Introduction

Jesus makes two powerful statements in John 10: “I am the door” (v. 7) and “I am the good shepherd” (v. 11).

These metaphors reveal the depth of His role in our lives: He is both the gateway to salvation and the One who cares for, protects, and guides His sheep.

To illustrate, imagine a shepherd in the ancient Middle East. At night, he would lead his sheep into a stone pen.

This pen had only one entrance, with no gate.

The shepherd himself would lie down in the opening, becoming the “door” that kept predators and thieves from entering.

Jesus is saying that He is that protection and that way!

Question for reflection: Have we been living under the protection of Christ as our sheep? Or are we trying to enter by other ways?

1. Jesus as the Door: The Only Way to Salvation

1.1. The Meaning of the Door in the Biblical Context

In John 10:9, Jesus says, "I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved; he will go in and out and find pasture." He is stating that there is no other way to the Father.

This echoes John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

In the original Greek, the word for "door" is θύρα (thyra), which means a single passage, with no alternatives.

Additional Verses:

Acts 4:12: "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus."

1.2. The Temptation of Other Paths

Many people try to find salvation through other doors:

The door of good works – But Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we are saved by grace, not by works.

Ephesians 2:8-9: "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

The door of empty religion – But Matthew 7:22-23 shows us that Jesus will reject those who only practiced rituals without a relationship with Him.

Matthew 7:21-23: "Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’"

The door of materialism – But in Mark 8:36 Jesus asks: "What good will it be for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?"

Mark 8:36: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"

Application: Jesus is not one of many doors. He is the only door to eternal life!

1.3. Illustration

It is said that during World War II, many Jews were fleeing Nazi persecution.

Some villagers hid Jews, and when soldiers asked if there were any fugitives, some lied to protect them.

However, a Jewish girl said: "There is only one door to truth, and God is on the other side of it."

Jesus is that door – whoever passes through Him finds safety.

Additional Illustration:In the book of Revelation, Jesus stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to open and let Him in.

Revelation 3:20: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."

2. Jesus as the Good Shepherd: Our Guide and Protector

2.1. The Shepherd Who Gives His Life for the Sheep

John 10:11 – "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." Unlike mercenaries, who flee in the face of danger, Jesus gives himself completely for His sheep.

The word "good" in the original Greek is καλός (kalós), which means noble, beautiful, excellent.

He is not just a functional shepherd, but a loving and perfect shepherd.

Related Texts:

Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Isaiah 40:11: "He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms."

1 Peter 2:25: "For 'you were like sheep going astray,' but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

2.2. The Relationship Between the Shepherd and the Sheep

Jesus describes this relationship in John 10:3-4: "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice."

The sheep know the voice of the shepherd.

They follow him because they trust him. In ancient Palestine, many sheep were gathered together in a common fold.

In the morning, the shepherds would call their sheep, and only those who knew the voice of the shepherd would come.

Application: Do you know the voice of your Shepherd? Or have you been hearing other voices that distract you from your walk with God?

2.3. The Danger of Wolves and Hirelings

John 10:12-13: "A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep."

Jesus warns about hirelings (John 10:12-13) and wolves who want to destroy the flock.

The hireling (mercenary) represents religious leaders or influences who do not truly care about the sheep.

The wolf symbolizes the devil, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

Application: We need to be alert against false teachings and leaders who do not reflect the character of Christ!

Additional Verses:

Matthew 7:15: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."

2 Peter 2:1: "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves."

3. Practical Applications for Our Lives

3.1. How Can We Enter Through the Door?

Repentance and Faith – Acts 4:12: “There is no salvation in any other.”

Acts 4:12: "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Submission to Christ – Acknowledging Him as Lord and Savior.

Additional Verses:

Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

3.2. How Can We Follow the Good Shepherd?

By hearing His voice daily through the Bible.

By remaining in the flock (fellowship with the church is essential).

By trusting Him even when circumstances are difficult.

Illustration:A shepherd once found an injured sheep and carried it on his shoulders. Another shepherd asked, “Why are you carrying this sheep?” He replied, “It wandered away from the flock and was injured. Now, as it recovers, it will learn to trust in Me.”

Jesus does the same with us when we wander away. He carries us in His arms until we restore our faith.

Additional Illustration:In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus leaves the ninety-nine to find the one that is lost.

Luke 15:4-7: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Conclusion: The Call to Come in and Follow

Jesus is the Door that gives us access to the Father and the Good Shepherd who guides and protects us.

Summary of main points:

There is no other door to salvation than Jesus.

As the Good Shepherd, He guides us and gives His life for us.

We must listen to His voice and remain in the flock.

Final question for reflection: Have you passed through the Door? Have you followed the voice of the Good Shepherd?

Invitation: If someone has not yet surrendered their life to Christ, today is the day to enter through this Door and be guided by the faithful Shepherd!

This enhanced version includes additional biblical references and illustrations to support each point of your sermon.