Jesus as the Door
At our house we have a rule, the last one out locks the door. Doors are useful because they keep things inside protected. They protect our things from those who would like to steal them or perhaps deface or destroy them. Doors also protect things we value from cold in the winter, heat in the summer, from the rain and whatever else the environment might throw at it. Because of this, doors are an important security measure. They are means of protection.
Doors are also about separation. On one occasion, I took my family to a museum. After a long journey, I was somewhat horrified to see great long lines of people wanting to get in to the same exhibit we were hoping to see. We waited for about an hour and a half in line and then the museum administrators decided they were going to shut the doors and only those who were already inside could see the exhibit that evening. Those who were out would have to come back another day. The doors certainly made a distinction between those who were on the inside and those of us who were disappointed on the outside.
Most importantly though, doors are about finding the way in or a way through. We speak of doors this way both literally and figuratively. When you are on the outside and you want to get to the inside, you had better find a door. You might grope your way along a wall for a long time, but unless you find a door you are not likely to get through the wall.
Let me read you some verses from John, chapter 10 where Jesus gives an eloquent little word picture to his disciples to help them understand who He is and what His role is. Jesus said to them: “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” [John 10-7-10]
Here, Jesus clearly identifies Himself as the door. The picture is specifically of a sheep fold, as opposed to the door of a house or any other kind of building. He uses this image Himself as He reveals Himself to His followers. When we think of Him as the door, we see all three aspects of the metaphor apply to Him.
Certainly He is the way in. First and foremost, He is the way to God. This was dramatically revealed as He was dying on the cross and the veil in the temple was ripped apart, torn in two. This allowed unprecedented access into the presence of God. The tearing of the veil was symbolic of the fact that when Jesus died for our sin, the obstacle that separated us from God was taken out of the way. So the door metaphor shows that Jesus is the way into God’s presence.
For those who chose to pass from death into life, moving from the outside to the inside, Jesus also provides protection. Not protection from all the evils of this world in a physical sense, but spiritually. Because Jesus is the door, nothing can get in and drag us out against our will. We are safe in His hand and His Father’s hand and so we are protected. Further on in the same chapter Jesus reassured His disciples with these words 28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” [John 10:28-30]
Lastly, we see that just as a door separates those on the inside from those on the outside, Jesus also divides humanity. Here’s an important thing to note: At this point, the invitation is for us to come in. The door is open. Those who are outside are there by choice. This choice puts them out of reach of the relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ we talked about earlier. It also puts them outside of the protection He provides to those who accept His invitation.
When we think about Jesus as the door, the big thing to remember is access. Christians often remind themselves of this through the habit of saying the words “in Jesus’ name” when they pray. Through this they acknowledge that they are coming to God through the door that He provided - His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, it is not necessary to say the words every time. The fact is that when Christians pray or worship or otherwise relate to God it is only because Jesus provided the way for them to do that.
One more note in closing: Just as some people choose to not pass through the door to enter into a relationship with God, some Christians live as if they had never passed through the door. They neglect the relationship that passing through the door makes possible. So here’s a question for you: As someone who has taken the step of accepting the invitation of the Lord Jesus to come inside, are you taking enjoying the relationship that step made possible?
Ron Hughes
© July 2006
