Voice of the Door
John 10:1-10
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this morning is from the Gospel lesson. Jesus says, "I Am the door.” This is one of those passages, which I use to remind people that Jesus is not always speaking literally. Jesus is not saying that he is an actual door. The Son of God took on flesh, not wood or stone in order to be a door. But at the same time Jesus’ words are very true. Jesus is the door of the sheep.
Many people have come along and chosen to be part of the sheep. There are many people in the world today that have decided to become Christians. In some cases they have even chosen to join a church. These people have even decided that they know enough of about the Bible to teach others. These people jump over the fence and decide to help the sheep realize the truth.
These are people who know how dumb sheep can really be. They tell the sheep they are a part of them, while really they just want to lead you into a different sheep pen, or maybe the goat pen. They will come to your bible study, church, or fellowship group. They will seem very wise and insightful. These people will even be leading pretty upstanding lives. They will look like angels and speak with a soothing voice.
Then you will fall prey to thinking these people have what is best for you. You will listen to them. You will support them. Until one day, you hear a voice so far off in the distance that you can barely recognize it anymore. This voice is calling to you. You recognize, but it would be way too much work to listen to it. You would have to change how you have become comfortable to follow that voice.
All those who do not come in through the Door are thieves and robbers. The only way to enter into the true sheepfold is through the Door. Jesus Christ is the way we have to eternal salvation.
Many people have asked disciples in scripture how must we be saved. The end of Mark says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Jesus tells the rich man, “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” On the day of Pentecost St Peter said, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Similarly, Paul and Silas told the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
But in all these statements, we know that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We can’t keep all the commandments in the least, more or less perfectly. We can’t baptize ourselves. We can’t even believe in Jesus Christ our savior by our own reason or strength. It is the Holy Spirit who grants us this gift of Faith.
Jesus is the Door, by which we enter into the sheep pen. Jesus is our Good Shepherd who keeps us in that sheep pen. He is the one who leaves the 99 to seek after you. He is that faint voice we hear in the distance. He has claimed you to be his very own. He has claimed you to be his little Lamb.
There are many who come to steal you away. There are still others who wish to destroy your faith. They will teach you lies, about who you are and about who Jesus is. But the Word of God will remain true. His voice continues to call you by name. His voice continues to call you back to the truth of his word. St Peter reminds us, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
We are just sheep. We hear Jesus’ voice, and he calls each of you by name and leads you out. He delivers you from bondage to sin, the Kingdom of the Devil, and the corruption of this world.
But even now, we still live with Sin, the Devil, and the world pressing in on each of us. There are many robbers and thieves in our own lives. These things seek to steal us from God, and eternal life from us. They seek to destroy our faith.
Thanks be to God, it is not about us and what we do. It is all about what Jesus has done for us and in our place. Jesus Christ our savior took on flesh, and was born of the virgin Mary. He grew up. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He was crucified died and buried. The good Shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep. He breaks down all the barriers that stand between you and God, with one exception, himself.
Remember Jesus says, “I am the Door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Likewise, he says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
And so John 10 we will carry on to next week. Amen.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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