“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and he will go in and find rest.” (Jn. 10:9)

This self-portrait of Jesus becomes very precious and beautiful when we understand the ancient practice of shepherds in this regard. When night came the shepherd would gather his sheep into an enclosed safe area with a narrow opening. When all were accounted for the shepherd himself would become the door to the area. No sheep could go out, and no enemy could enter in, without the shepherd knowing.

A traveler once, when skies were rose and gold

With Syrian sunset, paused beside the fold,

Where an Arabian shepherd housed his flock;

Only a circling wall of rough, gray rock—

No door, no gate, but just an opening wide

Enough for snowy, huddling sheep to come inside.

“So,” questioned he, “then no wild beast you dread?”

“Ah, yes, the wolf is near,” the shepherd said.

“But”—strange and sweet the words Divine of yore

Fell on his startled ear: “I am the door!”

When skies are sown with stars, and I may trace

The velvet shadows in this narrow space,

I lay me down. No silly sheep may go

Without the fold but I, the shepherd know.

Nor need my cherished flock, close-sheltered, warm,

Fear ravening wolf, save o’er my prostrate form.

O word of Christ—illumined evermore

For us His timid sheep—”I am the Door.” (Author Unknown)

Scriptures: Jn. 10:1-10

1. What comes to mind when you think of a “door”?

2. Discuss the scene Jesus describes in Jn. 10:1-5

3. In what ways is Jesus the door of the sheep?

(cf. Gen. 28:16, 17; Ps. 78:23, 24; Rev. 4:1)

4. How comforting is it to know that Jesus is our Door?

5. What are the pastures He promises?

6. What is the promise of Jesus in Jn 10:9?

7. If Jesus is the Door, what does that say about all other “doors”?

8. What need of man does Jesus meet by being “The Door”?