“All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:7-8).
Jesus is the door. The Pharisees did not understand what Jesus was telling them. Or, rather, they had some idea and they didn’t like it. Jesus’ words continue to be twisted and misunderstood to this day. Jesus is explicit. There is no other way to get to God the Father. Jesus is the door. He is the only legitimate access to a right relationship with God. A short time later in St. John’s Gospel, Jesus will again assert that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him.[1]
This offends modern sensibilities at least as much as it offended the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. The Jews did not like that Jesus was calling them illegitimate children of the devil, and sinners who needed repentance.[2] They believed that they had God’s favor by virtue of their blood line, which they could trace back to Abraham, and through their keeping of the Law. As John the Baptist reminded them, however, their human ancestry meant nothing. God could, if he wanted, raise up children for Abraham out of the stones scattered on the ground.[3] If they were truly Abraham’s children, Jesus tells them, they would do what Abraham did and believe in Him. We modern, enlightened, progressive Americans also dislike when Jesus makes statements such as, “I am the door.” We don’t like that Jesus is politically incorrect. The exclusivity of Jesus’ statement makes us uncomfortable. We modern Christians don’t like other people to hear about this Jesus; He’s not friendly. This Jesus is abrasive. He doesn’t validate the beliefs of all people, something our progressive American culture encourages. In the eyes of our sinful flesh, this Jesus alienates people and drives them away by asserting that He is the door. He’s not all-inclusive, at least in the way the world thinks He should be. Our flesh thinks it can reach God by avenues of our own choosing. We invent rules, and induce mystical experiences in order to try and connect and communicate with God. Modern multiculturalism preaches the “coexist” gospel which accepts all religions as valid, even though they are contradictory. This gospel, where men make mistakes but do not sin, and all religious paths lead to heavenly bliss, is a false one.
Jesus, however, did not come to bring peace, but a sword.[4] Christ brings division. This seems a strange thing for the Prince of Peace to say. He means, of course, that while He brings peace by reconciling mankind with God through His atoning death and glorious resurrection, there will be division on earth because some will hear the message and reject Him. Before His return, those who believe will be persecuted by those who do not. And, on the Last Day, those false teachers who prophesied, cast out demons, and did many wonders in Jesus’ name, but did not have faith, will be told, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”[5] You can’t come into the sheepfold by any other door. Jesus’ sheep, however, hear His voice. Jesus’ sheep recognize His voice and follow Him. They will not follow the thieves and robbers. Jesus’ sheep will enter by Him. They will be saved, and go in and out and find pasture.
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