When Jesus says, “I am the gate for the sheep”, he is saying he is their protector. Imagine the sheep in the cleft of a cave at night and the shepherd sleeping across the entrance to protect them from getting lost and from predators.

But the leaders of Israel, king Herod and the Pharisees, and the revolutionaries that would challenge the imperial authorities, they are thieves and brigands. On one end there are those who collude with Rome to get wealthy by stealing from the flock, and on the other end are the warlords that happily kill and destroy in order to amass power.

This condemnation is just as relevant today. We have leaders that promote the agenda of the rich without a concern for justice and righteousness. And we have leaders that kill, steal and destroy in order to gain power and build their own personal empires.