9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

When Jesus referred to Himself as the door, He was not only referring to their protection, but also through Him and through Him alone men find access to God.  Jesus opens the way to God. Until Jesus came men could only think of God as a stranger, someone to be worshiped in fear.  Jesus came to tell and to show mankind what God was like.  He came to open the way to God.

It is Jesus' claim that He came that men might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. The phrase more abundantly is Greek phrase which means to have a surplus, a super abundance of something. Life in Christ is far greater than people can realize.

Darrel Gunther was my assistant pastor. At a pastors and wives Christmas party we were asked to go around the tables and share meaningful Christmas memories.  When it was Darryl’s turn to share his eyes weld up with tears and love and said, "Christ makes Christmas meaningful".  As he lived in a non-Christian home there was love, there were presents, there was fun and activities, but there was not Jesus Christ.  Christ was always part of my Christmases.  For one who grew up without the reality of Jesus' personal presence, they understand even more fully the meaning of this statement. I will give you life and give it to its fullest. There is nothing that compares with Jesus.  He not only gives eternal life, but a meaningful life for the here and now.

Do not confuse material blessings or outward happiness with meaningful life.  The disciples considered it pure joy to suffer for the sake of Christ.  They did not have material goods, they did not have lives of ease when they were jailed, beaten, and persecuted, but they had something the others didn't.  They had the joy within that made it all worth it and even abundant. Beware however of the false shepherds.  Jesus was referring to the religious leaders of that day. Most of these leaders were not true shepherds, nor did they have the approval of God on their ministry.  They did not love the sheep but instead exploited them and abused them.  The blind man who was the beggar was a good example of what the "thieves and robbers" could do.

Behind these false shepherds is the thief - probably a reference to Satan.  The thief wants to steal the sheep from the Master to have eternal punishment as their consequence.  He wants to destroy them and us.  He wants you to think there are other ways to be saved than trusting and following Jesus. He wants you to think you must earn your way. Keep looking at the Shepherd and persevere.

When you go through the door you receive life and you are saved. As you go in and out, you enjoy abundant life in the rich provision of the Lord.  God's sheep enjoy fullness and freedom.

There is only one way to be saved. There is only one way into the gates of Heaven.  It is following Jesus, accepted Him, believing in Him. 

Application:  What is trust that is willing to obey him? It is not in the obeying, it is in the trusting, but if there is no obedience, there is no trusting. He who enters by the door will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.