Shepherds and Gates

In John 10 Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.”

He’s telling us things enter our world, intersect in our lives and rob us of our joys, our loves, our loved ones. At times, these sheep are us. We are taken from our home, we’re stripped from our core, true selves. Things enter our lives seeking to destroy who we are and what we’re meant to be. We lose sheep to cancer, to pain, to struggle, to divorce, to death. We have relationships stolen from us, children who die before we do, and just like the sheep – we don’t see it coming.

And Jesus knows this. That’s why he tells us to be aware. Christians must know there’s evil in the world and all sheep need a shepherd.

So that’s Jesus’ role – to be our shepherd? Right? He’s whom we look to in times of strife?

Sort of.

Jesus does say in scripture he is the good shepherd, but he also says, “I am the gate.”

Not the gatekeeper, bandit, or sheep, but the gate itself. He is the gate that has eternalness, the gate that endures.

"I am the gate" he says, “through which the shepherd and the sheep pass in order to be saved from being stolen, slaughtered and destroyed. I am the gate through which the shepherd and the sheep pass in order to have fullness of life. I am the gate through which the shepherd and the sheep pass so everything that is good, holy, and pure can come through me.

Wait . . . if Jesus is the gate . . . who is the shepherd?

We are.

Good leaders must know that Jesus is the gate; Jesus is the one whom we lead the sheep to and through. Jesus is where we point our fears, our hurts, our angers, our friends, our concerns, our loved ones, our enemies, our faith, our prayers, our time, our energy, and our thoughts. All of these things must pass through the gate.

For most of us we look to Jesus to only be our Shepherd and in one sense he is, but God is also telling us that all who dare to call on Jesus’ name power is given to us to become shepherds who lead sheep.

It’s time we realize that we’re the shepherds. We have to watch out for bandits while caring for the flocks by night. We are the ones called to care for the flock, seek out the lost, and lead those who follow. And as shepherds we must never forget to enter through the gate.

Of course this is only relevant if we are looking to enjoy life and enjoy it abundantly.