Rev. Thomas E. Myers

April 13, 2008

John 10:1-10                            

  “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

    ⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Sermon:  The Resurrection Gate

Do you pay attention to gates?

Look at gates sometime; they send different messages. Some gates display a sense that they are open, letting people know that it is good to come in.  Other gates are closed, locked and foreboding, letting you know that you are not welcome.  Some gates let you know that they are there to keep something in, like a dog, a horse, or a child.  They are to be temporarily closed.  Other gates are always closed.  Some gates are attached to fences, the access point between what is in and what is out.  When our children were toddlers we had a gate at the top of the basement stairs that kept little ones from falling down them.

Some gates have no fences. They stand in the middle of a field or at the edge of a yard, a gate, a lock, but no fence attached.  Sometimes gates are simply for decoration.

Jesus describes his role as a gate clearly - it's the entrance to life, the threshold to joy and completeness, the gate between our preoccupation with security and the freedom to live without fear.  He said, "I am the gate."

In contrast to the voices of the leaders that encouraged people to do hurtful and restrictive  things, in contrast to those who motivate by fear and are motivated by fear;  Jesus, the gate, provides sanctuary for the sheep and a ministry of service for the realm of God.  The Way of Jesus, the way of resurrection, intends love and mercy for all of God’s people.  The way of Jesus grants abundant life, pasture, and salvation for those who follow the Shepherd's voice.

In Jesus’ time as well as for us fear is our greatest obstacle.  Today we hear Jesus’ message about loving enemies, about seeking first the kingdom of God, about forgiving seventy times seven, and yet we let fear get in the way of faithful discipleship.  We hear Jesus talk about God’s concern for the poor, that we should be of a generous spirit, that we should strive to be perfect as God is perfect; and yet, we chose the safe path of self-preservation.  It’s because of fear.

We hear Jesus say that we should not worry about tomorrow because that type of worry keeps us from living completely and lovingly today.  We hear Jesus say that we should turn the other cheek, that we should be willing to risk for the greater good of God’s Realm.  We hear his voice and yet we store away wealth and neglect our neighbors.  We hear, but refuse to follow the way that leads to abundant life through the resurrection gate, the gate of the shepherd.

There are false shepherds who speak other words.  False shepherds who talk of defending one’s rights, of accumulating wealth, of achieving social prominence.  It’s tempting to listen to them and lock ourselves away, to protect what we have and to shut out the world.  We think it is prudent to listen to our fears.  We think it is better to live a risk-free life rather than to follow the shepherd of the gate.  We chose security over resurrection, death over life, fear over joy, and isolation over community.

This way of Jesus is risky, life giving, and life sustaining.  The way of Jesus is here and now.  Jesus is the resurrection and the life.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Whether the thieves and bandits are Pharisees, false prophets, drug dealers, the military industrial complex, or self-help marketers; the claim is the same, Jesus is the gate.  Put aside your fears, follow his voice, and live.

Jesus’ point is clear: beware of those outside the gate who want to draw you away from the life of resurrection.  We know the message.  Even sheep focus on the voice they have come to trust.  They follow.  Even sheep know that there is protection in the presence of the shepherd even in the face of danger.  Are we as faithful as sheep?

It is faith that emboldens us to live in a hostile, frequently tempting, and conflict ridden world.

Jesus is the way to life.  Jesus is our barrier between the thieves who want to steal, kill, and destroy.  We are already protected from those who bring real harm, destruction, even death.  We have nothing to fear when we follow Jesus’ voice.  He is the resurrection gate.

Jesus is the gate who divides the realm of life from the realm of death.

Gates do a lot of things. Some hold us in. Some keep people out. Some mark a place of transition.  Jesus is the resurrection gate.  Jesus is a threshold, a passage to new life.  Jesus knows that we crossed through the resurrection gate, we have been changed, everything has changed, because now we know his voice.

We no longer need to cower behind doors and walls.  We have been empowered to love God and serve the world.  He is the gate that leads to abundant life, both in this realm and the next.  There's no other gate like him.  Thanks be to God.

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