I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying. So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest. (John 10:1-10, CEB)
In Jesus’ day sheep pens were three sided areas with an opening or possibly 4 sided with what would be an entrance or gate area, but there was no gate. The shepherd would need to sit/lay/stand in the opening to keep the sheep in and the predators out.
Like this picture. Jesus literally is the one who keeps us safe. Looks out for us and watches over us. Being a part of the body is not a hindrance to life, but is life beyond our imagination.
Know you are loved and cared for by God.
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 