The door.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:7-18

Hmmm … to me … those are almost fighting words, especially to those who first heard these words other than the disciples who were most likely somewhat confused about some of it, but to the Pharisees and other Jews who heard these words – they definitely sounded ‘crazy’ and offensive. But to us in this day there are real spiritual ramifications to ponder. What came to your mind when you read about the ‘hired hand’ of the flock? Do you think we still have them today? How can we tell who is and who isn’t a ‘hired hand’? What is the impact on the flock who are mainly looked after by a ‘hired hand’? How many ‘shepherds’ would walk away if they were no longer paid or hired? Would they really leave if they actually were called to the position by Jesus? Is Jesus their source or is the flock? I know… dangerous questions.

What is the deeper connotation to the statement, “I know my own and my own know me,”? How would His sheep ‘know Him’? And how is that different than another statement of Jesus where He says to certain ones … On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Matthew 7:22-23 What does it really mean to be ‘known’ by Jesus?

What really is the ‘door’? Entering INTO Jesus really means…what? Only those that really have… can answer that question truthfully. And Jesus talks about those who have entered in Him going ‘in and out’ and ‘finding pasture’. What do you think ‘finding pasture’ means?

Who actually has a vibrant, intimate, deep relationship with the Holy Spirit, that has lots of conversation and questions and discussion going on? Could Jesus ‘know’ a person by the same Spirit that lives within them that lives within Him?  How well do you know the Holy Spirit?

When you read scripture is the Holy Spirit highlighting all sorts of things for you to ponder and ask questions about? Do you ask Him? Or do you just drop it and walk away?

Go THROUGH the door. Enter in. Get dunked.