Jesus as the “Door” …
Remember that the Old Testament Tabernacle had only one door, one gate! And that opening was 30 feet wide! A picturesque way of saying “Whosoever will may come!” (Exodus 38:18)
Come to think of it, the Ark Noah built also had only one door! Only one way to safety, t5o avoid judgment! (Genesis 6:16)
Jesus is the only Way to Heaven!
The Holy Spirit is called “The Spirit of Truth” three times in the Gospel of John! (John 14:17 and John 15:26 and again in John 16:13) It is He Who opens the door to the sheepfold!
The only other Porter I can find in the New Testament is in John 18:16-17. This “door keeper” (the same Greek word as “porter” in John 10:3) is a damsel, a young lady! (I have heard the Holy Spirit characterized as the Feminine Influence in the Godhead, the Trinity! Partly because of His Gentleness and Warmth.) And He certainly does play a vital part in the New Birth, recall!
Hearing or knowing the Shepherd’s Voice (Jesus’ Call) is a recurring theme in John chapter 10. See verses 3 and 4 and 5 and 8 and 16 and 27! That’s amazing! (Add a verse from John’s First Epistle to this “hearing” data … “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6
A quote I forgot to include … “OUR LORD FEEDS US BY HIS PLAIN SIMPLE) WORDS. BUT HE EXERCISES US BY HIS OBSCURE (HARD) WORDS!”
See if Numbers 27:16-17 sounds like Jesus our sweet Shepherd. “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.”
Compare now to Mark 6:34 … “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”
Amen!
This may be Matthew’s way of saying that Jesus is the Door, the Gate to eternal life … “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
After several of Jesus’ great “I AM” Statements, He soon issues a Gospel invitation!
This is classic! “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:35-37
This one is more compact. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12, “I AM” then an “INVITATION!”
And here in our chapter of course … “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9-10, any man!
Seems like I omitted a lot!
Still, I invite you to watch the Class now …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell