Josh Lease, Student Ministries Pastor
John 10:1–6
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone 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 one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
Therefore Jesus said again,
“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”
John 10:7
In calling himself the gate, Jesus is saying he is our
A gate is an to an area that would normally be closed off
“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.” – John 10:8–9
Jesus is portraying himself as the gate between and
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
Through Jesus we can experience God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven
“You can grow into a person of happiness, even in times of great suffering. The kind of person who is not afraid of suffering or even of death, who is free of the emotional need for things to go your own way. You can fulfill your purpose. You can even learn to do many of the incredible things Jesus did. To see the signs of his kingdom manifest in your ordinary life. It’s possible-all of it.”
– John Mark Comer in Practicing The Way
The Lord God banished [Adam] from the Garden of Eden. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. – Genesis 3:23–24
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6
What other gates are you trying to find life in?
Small Group Questions
- Are you more of a dog person or a cat person? Why?
- How does hearing that Jesus is the gate make you feel? What do you think he means when he says he is the gate?
- In your understanding, what is Jesus is the gate to?
- Where are you currently trying to find life? What doors are you using to gain access to life?
- How might you take Jesus up on his offer of being the gate to life and life to the full?
- What needs to change in order for you to organize your life around Jesus?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?