When Jesus said to the crowd around Him, "I AM the Gate," He was making a profound statement. It was clear that the "sheepfold" mentioned in the story offered safety, salvation, and eternal life. But there was only one way into that sheep pen. Only one Gate. There was absolutely, positively, no other way to enter it, but by this one and only Gate. People back then didn't like that teaching very much. Many still don't like it.