THERE are certain figurative ideas presented to us in the Scriptures, which to the Eastern mind are perfectly natural, while to us of another race and habit of life they offer difficulties. Amongst these may be placed the well-known words of the Lord, "I am the Door of the Sheep.”
The fold in Palestine is a strong erection, having high walls of stone, or of prickly shrubs, and it affords a safe abode for the flock during the night. The walls are designed to keep out both wolves and robbers. The entrance to the fold is a little doorway in the wall, just about the height of a man, and wide enough to admit one sheep at a time. When the hour has come for folding the flock, the shepherd stands at the doorway; and having his rod—really a formidable club—in his hand, he calls the sheep to enter in. He is their protector; his club is to preserve them from both wolf and robber. When the flock has passed in under his club, or rod—that is, really under his protecting care—the shepherd stands in the doorway, and thus he becomes literally the door. "I am the Door," says our Lord. He keeps the flock, and none can enter in save at His will. Robbers come to the fold to kill and to destroy; He in His might is the Living Door to save and to preserve.
He is the "Door of the Sheep." Suppose a stranger stood in the doorway of the fold: do we suppose the Eastern flock would approach and enter in? They would flee from the stranger. His club, his rod, would terrify them; his voice would repel them—they would not know the voice of the stranger. The sheep are wise in the knowledge of their shepherd, if in other matters they may be foolish. The Lord speaks of this wisdom: "I know My sheep, and am known of Mine.”
Let us picture to ourselves the Living Door, and apply the figure to our Lord. He stands in His strength. His right hand of power holds the extended rod. He stands in His love. His heart is towards His sheep. He is the Door for them. What vigor does this picture give to our Lord's gracious words: "I am the Door: by Me, if any man enter in...." By Me, the Living Door, the Person full of strength and power! What a sweetness it casts over the entry of the flock to perfect security. The eye is just fixed upon Jesus, and upon Him all hopes rest. Indeed, there is no question whatever on the Door; He is there, and all questions are answered by His strength and His love.
“By Me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved." The door to the Jewish nation was an ordinance; the door to the fold is Jesus. The ordinance did not save—Jesus saves. The ordinance was not instituted to save; by it man entered the nation and came under the law. Jesus came to save, and by Him not only are we saved, but we "enter in" the fold of security; we "go in and out" as He may lead and guide, and we "find pasture"—we are supplied out of His fullness.