Jesus often used the things of this world around us to explain spiritual things symbolically. In the passage we will study this week Jesus used sheep to give a lesson about the New Birth. He referred to Himself as a good shepherd who cared, took care of the sheep, and even laid down his life for the sheep. In His day shepherds would bring their flocks at night into one fold or corral. During the day they would pasture on hills, but there were also many wolves and enemies there. So at night the shepherds would all lead their flocks into one fold. This fold would have a corral or fence made of stone and be high enough to keep out thieves, robbers, and wolves. At the gate there would be a gatekeeper who would open the gate when the shepherds came to call their sheep. The shepherd would know each one of his sheep and the sheep would follow their respective shepherds out of the fold when they heard him call.