The Gate

Jubilate -- April 17, 2005

John 10:1-10

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear Christian friends, we have a powerful text before us today. We hear about God’s sheep (all those who are His called children) and the sheep pen, Christ’s church. We also hear about thieves and robbers who enter the sheep pen. We learn about the Shepherd Himself, and that He has appointed a watchman who opens the gate for the Shepherd. Jesus further points out that only He Himself is the gate by which the sheep can enter the sheep pen.

Interestingly, this whole discussion revolves around the sheep, for if there were no sheep, there would be no sheep pen, and no thieves or robbers would come to steal the sheep. Without sheep, there would be no need for a watchman at the gate. Indeed, the Shepherd would never had to lay down His life, if there were no sheep.

Last week, according to the traditional Lutheran calendar, was Misericordias Domine - or - the merciful heart of God Sunday. Psalm 23 was the Psalm of the day and it was also referred to as Good Shepherd Sunday.

Today, according the revised 3-year lectionary which Concordia Publishing House adopted as the readings on the backs of our bulletins, it is the 4th Sunday of Easter, or Good Shepherd Sunday. Historically, this would be Jubilate Sunday, or, make a joyful noise Sunday. So, today we celebrate, making a joyful noise, that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the very Gate by which we enter His eternal kingdom. And, if we understand something about sheep, we can see why this is so wonderful.

Everybody knows some things about sheep. Sheep are not real bright animals. They are easily led astray, they would even follow another sheep off the edge of a cliff. In fact, a whole flock will follow one right after another off the edge of a cliff. They eat the grass in a pasture till there is nothing left, and they would starve, unless they were led to a pasture where there is feed. Sheep get into trouble very easily, and so they need a shepherd to take care of them because they would go hungry or get into trouble if left on their own.

There is one last, but very important fact to know about sheep. In Jesus’ day, a man’s wealth was measured by the number of sheep he had. Sheep were considered wealth, a man’s prized possession. These things have something to say to us when we meditate upon the fact that God refers to us as sheep.

We are sheep that love to wander. We get ourselves into trouble, sinfulness. Just like a sheep that goes off to investigate some bush that looks appealing, but we find ourselves entangled in sin’s briars and brambles . Without the shepherd to come and reach in with His staff and get us out, we’d remain stuck there and die. Other sheep lead us astray and we blindly follow along. We know something could lead us to destruction, but because other sheep are heading that way, we’d go right along with the crowd, maybe even off the cliff to death.

Thieves and robbers like to sneak into the pen and lead us astray. As sheep, you are easily entranced and listen to the voices of thieves and robbers. Thieves and robbers have snuck into the sheep pen, Christ’s church, and many follow them. In fact, you like to follow them instead of your Shepherd.

Of course, neither you, or anybody who follows them, thinks of them as thieves and robbers. Why? Because they say exactly what your itching ears want to hear. Besides, they're not stealing from you! Indeed, what they are stealing - is you - from your Shepherd! And by doing so, they kill and destroy you, because they remove you from the sheep pen where there is life in the Good Shepherd, Christ Jesus - His life He gives to you for He gave it up to death upon the cross for you.

Even in the Old Testament, Isaiah pointed out these facts to us in his prophecy. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Is. 53:6 ESV) We see how it is foretold that the sheep would love to wander. In spite of this, it is foretold how much the Shepherd cares for the sheep, even willing to take upon Himself, the iniquity of us all. And this is because you, as Christ’s sheep are His most prized possession, His wealth.

It is for this reason that Jesus talks about the sheep and the thieves and robbers in our text. He talks about the sheep hearing the voice of the shepherd and that they will not follow a stranger. But, it tells us in our text, Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what He was telling them.

In front of the listeners that day was the Shepherd, and even they didn’t sometimes understand the Shepherd. The stupid sheep didn’t get it - it was too difficult. So Jesus explains it again, “I tell you the truth I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”

Jesus breaks it down for them into simple terms. Christ is the Gate - the only Gate. There is no way into heaven except through the Gate. There are thieves and robbers who will come in and try to steal the sheep, but the sheep do not listen to them. Jesus says that His sheep know His Voice; and by contrast, He will say later in this same chapter, that those who do not recognize and listen to His voice are not His sheep and they have no part in His sheepfold.

The thieves and robbers have stolen some sheep though. There are those sheep who will go with them. Jesus proclaims very clearly that those sheep are not His sheep. For only His sheep, those who enter by the gate - through Him - have life and are saved.

There is only one Gate, whoever enters through Christ will be saved. As Peter preached, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 ESV)

Today, you are told there are many gates - and that all these gates lead to the same pasture - that there are many ways to heaven. This dear friends is not true. Thieves and robbers would have you believe this, but they are not the voice of your Shepherd. That indeed is how you can identify the false voices of thieves and robbers who’d like to steal you from your Shepherd, for they do not give glory to Christ is all things, they speak of other things than the Shepherd alone.

It is thieves and robbers preach doctrines created by men and do not point solely to Christ. They may sound nice and their words may be pleasing to the ear, but they are able to be recognized because they do not teach that salvation comes in Christ alone. They can be recognized by the fact they do not give all the glory to the Shepherd - to Jesus Christ.

Some are thieves because they flatter the sheep and make them feel good about themselves, teaching that the sheep can produce good works that help them gain salvation. Oh, they may mention the Good Shepherd, Jesus, but they focus upon the fact that you need to be doing your part.

Some thieves flatter the sheep by claiming they are not as foolish as they really are, that their wandering into briars, brambles, and off the edge of the cliff will not kill them. They teach that certain things are not as sinful and evil as the watchmen appointed by Christ, proclaiming the truth of Scripture makes them out to be. Some sheep follow these thieves, because they do not want to repent of their sins, and they wander from the Gate - possibly lost for eternity.

Still other thieves have you try and enter the sheep pen by another route. They may call all religions similar, and that they are all doorways to the sheep pen, but they do not lead to heaven. Some thieves claim to be watchmen, of the Good Shepherd, but claim that there are those who have died in the faith are gates to the sheep pen, and that you can pray to dead people and trusting them can shepherd you and help you into heaven.

These are called thieves because they sneak in, they stealthily appear. Their smooth speech and flattering talk are cunningly deceptive and lead many sheep astray.

Christ alone is the gate and He alone saves. The Voice of the Good Shepherd is without a doubt the sweetest and most comforting sound that anyone could ever hear. It is the voice of the shepherd called you by name and led you out of the wilderness. The voice of the Shepherd forgives your sins and gives you Life, so that you have it to the full. But to those who are not yet sheep, even the sweetness of this Voice is quite bitter. It remains even bitter to the ears of true sheep, to your ears, because of your old Adam. Because the forgiveness of your sin means that you renounce and turn away from that sin, into which you loved to wander.

Dear friends in Christ, Jesus the gate, would have you enter through Him. He has come solely that you might have life. Christ, the Good Shepherd, came to give His life for the sheep, not to steal them for Himself, but that He might give His life for them and to them. The Good Shepherd is selfless, caring only for the good of the sheep, His most prized possession. Jesus is the gate, and into Him you were baptized - into His death and resurrection. In baptism you enter the sheep pen by the gate, you enter the church by Christ. It is there, in His church, that He feeds and nourishes His sheep.

Jesus is the gate, and the watchman opens the Gate for Him, speaking His Word, and they listen to the voice of the Shepherd which proclaims to you that your sins are forgiven you - and you are saved - given life to the full.

Jesus is the gate. When you eat and drink of Christ in the sacrament, you are entering through the Gate and given a foretaste of the banquet feast of the Lamb which shall have no end.

Christ, the gate to heaven, comes to you now- to give you life - His life. He comes that you may enter into life and have it to the full, both now and forever more. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Back to Sermon Archive.

Back to St. Peter's or Zion Lutheran

Back to the main page.