Many of Jesus’ “I Am” statements lend themselves to comforting depictions for Christians. “I am the light of the world,” makes for a nice painting! But in today’s passage, Jesus is the gate. 

Sarah Stenson teaches us how Jesus is being categorical in this text. There are two options: enter through the gate by hearing the shepherd’s voice or climbing in another way which makes you a thief and a bandit. 

Many will hear this as a prescription: how can I be a sheep and not a thief who steals, kills, and destroys? But this is an election text that depicts what happens to you when you hear Jesus’ promise: the sheep hear my voice. I came that they may have life. This is a passive act. 

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GOSPEL

John 10:1-10 

1 "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. (NRSV)

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