John 10:9 (KJV)
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Bible Commentary
John 10:9 is a Bible verse in the New Testament where Jesus Christ, the Shepherd of our soul, is describing Himself and His spiritual position between the world and the Kingdom of God.
In several places in the Bible, Jesus is referred to as a Shepherd. A shepherd tends sheep and takes care of them. This is a very accurate symbol of how Jesus takes care of us, like a shepherd tending His sheep. A shepherd must be on guard at all times to protect the sheep from predators, such as wolves, bears or lions. The sheep are safer when they stick together under the shepherd’s care and leadership.
If one sheep strays away from the flock, it endangers itself by being separated from the shepherd and the flock. It is much easier for a predator to attack a single sheep, which has distanced itself from its covering (the flock) and protector (the shepherd).
The enemy of our souls, the devil, has been very successful in separating the sheep from God and from one another. When we are hurt or offended, we see God or a person as our enemy, and we pull away. The devil deceives us into thinking that people are our enemies, when the truth is he is the one behind the scenes–instigating, attacking, tempting.
Jesus Christ, Shepherd of our Soul
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
You may have heard the term, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Life is a perilous journey here on earth, but we have Jesus Christ, the Shepherd of our souls, to protect us and lead us through the perilous journey here on earth. In John 10:9, Jesus describes himself as a door. We know this is not a physical door, but a spiritual one.
Allowing Jesus Christ to be the leader of our lives is the most effective way to be safe and free at the same time. He allows us to go in and out and find safe pasture, as John 10:9 says.
He allows us into the Kingdom of God while under His care and living physically on earth. Staying in close proximity to our Shepherd, we can have that “foretaste divine” as the old hymn goes. Focusing on the Holy Word of God and hiding it in our heart is an important way we stay close to Him.
Living under the covering of Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, is living protected from the spiritual forces of darkness. Continual submission to His leadership is to be free from the enemy’s tools of fear and deception (lies). Amazingly, we are One with the Creator of the universe. Together, we are a team like a sheep and his Shepherd. He promised to take up residence in us when we called on His Name and accepted His gift of the cross.
If you have strayed away from the Shepherd, come back to the Door of the sheep, His protective covering. Submit your life to Him. He gave His life so you could be free and safe. It is the only way to live a heavenly life here on earth.
Study John 10:9 and the Bible verses in the Commentary. Be free and safe in Jesus Christ, the Shepherd of our souls.
