Jesus The Gate

Growing up in rural Ohio, farming was everywhere. Because of the presence of livestock, gates were everywhere. Fields were marked by fences and gates. Opening and closing gates was important to keep everything where it needed to be. In John 10 Jesus identifies himself as the "Gate." It seems a crude picture for Someone so full of grace and mercy. Yet it is a powerful picture. A gate gives us access to something, provides a way through a barrier, and controls who has access to something or someplace. Jesus is the gate to eternal life. There are not a bunch of gates, there is One Gate that gives access to the Father in heaven and eternal life. Jesus Christ is mankind's hope. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. As Jesus states, all others are thieves and robbers. Their intention is selfish, greedy. Christ's intent is to give the sheep access to life. His intent is to provide safe pasture for His sheep. Previous to this story, a blind man, a nobody in Jesus' culture walked through the gate of faith and began to see life as never before. The Pharisees refused to go through the gate and find that life, remaining blind in their arrogance and sin. Jesus the Gate gives us access to eternal life, to the heart of the Father. He provides the way through the barrier of sin, guilt, condemnation and shame. The Father in heaven has opened the gate wide. He stands at the gate inviting-whosoever will may come. There will come a day when the gate will be shut. Until then, 'today is the day of salvation'.