Gate to the Sheep–A Lenten Reflection on Jesus’ I Am Statements

Images of crumbled buildings resembling toppled sandcastles at the beach flash across the screen. Then, rescue workers pull a small boy from the rubble–his wide brown eyes unfocused, the child clutches the arm of his rescuer. Overwhelmed by the child’s circumstances, I push the button on the TV remote and the room grows quiet.  If only there had been a door through which he could have escaped. Perhaps someone will tell that precious little one that Jesus once said, “I am the gate.” 

 

The Ancient Sheep Gate and Its Connection to Jesus 

When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, the city lay in ruins. But in the month of Nisan—the same month in which the Israelites shook off the shackles of slavery–God commissioned Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. 

The first gate to be restored? The Sheep Gate.  

Each of the gates into Jerusalem holds prophetic importance but the Sheep Gate points specifically to Christ and the words he would speak hundreds of years later, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. (John 10:7, 9 NIV) 

Consider the following: 

• Nehemiah, the high priest, and the other priests were responsible for the construction and hanging of the Sheep Gate.  Jesus is our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14),. 

 

• Of the ten gates the people rebuilt, only the Sheep Gate was consecrated to God.  As the unblemished Adam, Christ was set apart–or consecrated–as God’s only begotten Son.  (John 3:16)

 

• The entrance through which sacrificial lambs passed on their way to the Temple, the Sheep Gate also led to the sheep pool—or the pool of Bethesda where the lame and blind gathered for healing. Scripture affirms the Lamb of God washes us of our sins (Acts 22:16) and “by His stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:5)

 

The Importance of the Shepherd as the Gate 

 

Ancient shepherds of the time of Christ usually led their flocks to the sheepfold near dawn. Many times, shepherds shared the same pen. The sheepfolds were designed without a gate and, because predators or thieves might attack the sheep at night, one shepherd would lay across the entrance as the gate to the pen. He protected the sheep from danger—even stepping into harm’s way on their behalf.

He protected the sheep from danger—even stepping into harm’s way on their behalf. #gateforthesheep #jesusiamstatements Click To Tweet

As morning lit the rim of the sky, each shepherd called his sheep and they separated themselves from the various flocks. Each one knew the voice of its master.

Jesus, the Gate to the heavenly kingdom, shelters the sheep of His flock in the same way. He laid in the way of the Thief on our behalf to keep us from harm. And, now? “…neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV) 

Conclusion-Jesus as the Gate

1. Jesus is the only Gate. Jesus made it clear that “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:14 NIV) In a world that embraces “you do you”, Jesus makes people uncomfortable–even Christians. One Barna study points out that twenty-eight percent of Christians agree that “all people pray to the same god or spirit“. This belief, sadly, opposes Jesus’ own teaching.
2. The Gate remains unbolted. Jesus warned His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Life as a believer requires sacrifice. The way is often filled with unexpected challenges–even trials. But the blessings? The bounty? Oh, dear one, to be in the presence of Jesus! Neither the Sheep Gate nor the Gate to God’s kingdom are bolted or barred.
3. The sheep gather at the Gate. Like the sheep who gathered to their respective masters at the sheepfold, we also know the voice of our Master when He calls us. If you haven’t yet responded to Jesus’ voice calling your name, will you enter into the sheepfold today? He longs to be your shelter.

 

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Tammy Kennington

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