The Gate

10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” 

[John 10:1-10] 

Some denominations regard the fourth Sunday after Easter as “Good Shepherd Sunday”, and today’s readings reflect that. In the Church of England it’s also known “Vocations Sunday”, a day for people to prayerfully consider the role that God wants them to take in the life of the church.

Everyone in the church is called to something, and every role is important. The church cleaners, the wardens and the editor of the church magazine are equally valuable to God and to this church as the vicar. Sorry, vicars.

But, it wasn’t seen that way in Israel two thousand years ago. There was a very distinct pecking order with the religious leaders at the top and sinners at the bottom, and the Jews tried to get themselves forgiven and live righteous lives to stay near the top.

The teaching of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading goes some way towards challenging that idea of a pecking order and, as was often the case, people were confused by it. We start with Jesus telling the gathered people about shepherds and sheep in a sheepfold. He says that while thieves would try to sneak over the wall and steal the sheep, the shepherd will be allowed in by the gatekeeper, and will call his sheep out by name.

The people listening apparently didn’t understand this metaphor. So Jesus carries on. “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”

Now imagine for a second that you were there listening to Jesus that day. He’s just told you a story, a parable, about sheep and shepherds, gatekeepers and thieves, and you’re thinking “Okay, but how does that apply here?” So Jesus says, “I’m the gate”.

“You’re the gate?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Really? You don’t mean the gatekeeper?” 

“No.” 

“And you’re sure you’re not the shepherd?” 

“I’m the gate.” 

It just doesn’t make sense. But then, Jesus often didn’t make sense really. The Jews were expecting him to be some kind of champion who would overthrow the Roman Empire and free the people. They turned against him when started riding a donkey (even though it was prophesied in their own writings). Just when they thought they had a handle on him he did something else that was weird.

So what does this passage really mean? Well, it’s a warning to religious leaders.

It starts to make sense when you see that the sheepfold represents the Hebrew religion. The Old Testament, ten-commandment, kill-a-dove-to-be-forgiven type religion. So the sheep represent the Jews, huddled together in their safe religious enclosure.

Jesus says he is the gate, he is the only true and honest way in and out. The thieves and bandits are the Pharisees trying to get to the people without going through Jesus. But through Jesus, the true shepherd who cares about his flock, will enter into the Old Testament religion and bring the people out of it.

Just to add another layer of confusion, Jesus goes on in this chapter to say that he’s the Good Shepherd. So he’s the gate and the shepherd. But that’s okay too because Jesus, as God, is able to play several roles in our salvation like the High Priest and the sacrifice; the way, the truth and the life (14:6).

Jesus is born as a Jew, into the Jewish faith, but calls the people, by name, to a new religion that doesn’t need sacrifices or hundreds of rules to follow.

The old religion is safe and enclosed, but it traps the people with fear of sin, with rituals and regulations, the new religion frees them, like sheep roaming the hills.

There are two things that I think we can take from today’s reading: one is that Jesus came to free us from a religion that traps us, a religion with a hierarchy. If we think our religion comes with lots of rules to follow, then we’re doing it wrong. If we think archdeacons and bishops are more important to God, we’re doing it wrong. If we think we are better because we’re in here and there are people still in bed on this Sunday morning, we are doing it wrong.

The second, related, thing is that Jesus calls each and every one of us, by name. He knows who we are, what we’re good at, and what we’re capable of, and he has a job for each of us. Now I know that sometimes it’s not so easy to see that for ourselves, sometimes it’s easier to see it in others. It took the nudgings of several people in this church before I was ready to take on my role.

So, from personal experience, I ask you, please look around your church. Is there someone who you think God is calling to some new ministry? I don’t necessarily mean become a vicar or even lay minister. But do you know of someone in your church who has a gift, of music, of caring, of sharing the word. If there is, maybe you would feel able to tell them. Maybe someone has a gift that God can use to help the church and this community, and all that person needs is a quiet word from you.