I am the gate. Whoever enters by [M]e will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. John 10: 9, NRSV
Dear Lord, our hearts rejoice as we enter Your presence, to study Your Word. Please draw divinely close to us, and teach us, for Christ’s sake; Amen
Today, our promise speaks about Jesus as the gate. This is a rather interesting metaphor, because of what a gate represents. I am going to make it more personal by saying that He is our gate. One of the most important functions of a gate is to offer protection to those that are on the inside, by keeping out anything that threatens their well-being. There are some wonderful blessings promised to those who ‘[enter by Him].” Let us consider these blessings for a few minutes. I will invert the order of the blessings to save the “best for the last.” Those who enter through Christ, the gate, will:
“Find pasture.” In the Twenty-Third psalm, speaking of the good Shepherd, David says: “He makes me lie down in green pastures” (2). Here, Jesus is promising that all who enter by Him (or through Him), “will find pasture.” Their needs will be supplied. They will be well fed. And I am led to believe that, that includes, physical, spiritual, and emotional, nourishment.
“[They] will come in and go out.” In Psalm 118: 19, 20, the psalmist is asking that “the gates of righteousness” be opened so that “the righteous may enter.” Now, we all know that there is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3: 10). Therefore, it is obvious that those who enter in through the “gates of righteousness” have been made righteous, through “the LORD… our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23: 6)! Hallelujah! Do you know what that means? No boasting takes place within those gates! Because everyone, who have made it in through those gates, can give glory only to God.
They can also go out. This implies freedom! We are bound only by our love for our Master! We are Christ’s slaves by choice! We, who were once slaves of sin, have been set free in Christ Jesus our Lord, and now, as slaves of righteousness, we willing, serve our Lord and King (Romans 6: 17, 18)!
“[W]ill be saved.” Not by works, but by grace; His grace (Ephesians 2: 8, 9)! Through the faith that has been given to us (Romans 12: 3). How complete is our salvation in Jesus! He is the gate of righteousness. He is our righteousness. He is our freedom to come out and go in. He provides the faith whereby we accept His salvation. He is our Provider, of green pastures! Yes, Jesus is our everything! Is He yours?
If you would like to make Jesus your All in all, please join me at the Prayer Request Chapel for a prayer of dedication.