John 10:7-10. Only one way to God
Bishop Wallace Benn was interviewing potential candidates for training as Lay Readers. He asked them all,
“Do you consider that Jesus is the best way to God or the only way to God?”
They all replied,
“I consider him the best way to God.”
What a tragedy this is when those training to be teachers in our churches do not themselves clearly understand who Jesus is and think differently to Jesus.
“I am the gate. He who enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9
Context
In John chapter 9 we read of a blind man who comes to see both physically but also spiritually – he sees who Jesus is. Though coming from the bottom of the social heap he is a real character who sees through the pretensions of the religious leaders of his day. They cannot help this man because they were so deeply prejudiced against Jesus. They were phoney religious leaders. This is picked up in the beginning of chapter 10. The Jewish leaders at this time were false shepherds who were no use to the sheep. They didn’t protect them and they didn’t lead them to nourishment. True sheep do recognise false leaders and will always run away from them, just as this healed man did.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus now talks clearly about himself, and what he says is as relevant in his day as in in ours. He makes two profound and penetrating statements which are outrageous if he is not God. Note how the emphasis Jesus used is always on ‘I’ and ‘me’.
“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:7-9
Negative – a warning against false leaders
This is a sweeping statement, it is so egocentric. No Old Testament prophet could ever have spoken like this. In Acts chapter 5 the leading Pharisee, Gamaliel, gives a speech to the Sanhedrin Council when the apostles who had been openly talking about Jesus had been arraigned before them. He talked about other men who claimed to be from God but could be described as ‘thieves and robbers’. It is a beautiful illustration showing that all Pharisees were not the same, not all were hypocrites. Gamaliel was clearly an honourable man of integrity who clearly recognised that in Jesus and his disciples there was something different.
“Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed and all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt.. He too was killed and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in this present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose and activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:35-39
Clearly there was something about Jesus and the early Christians that had the ‘ring of truth’ about them.
John chapter 10 may refer to any who make disciples for themselves, men who want glory and aggrandisement. Jesus had earlier talked about such people,
“Watch out that no-one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.” Mark 13:5-6
Jesus has warned his people ahead of time, ‘Watch out’. He goes on to say,
“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect – if that were possible. So be on your guard.” Mark 13:21-23
History is full of such people who will dupe the gullible and lonely. One Chinese student who was studying in England said,
“After the Mao guard collapsed, there has been a spiritual vacuum in China. I am a spiritual being and I am searching.”
If the Christian church won’t stand up and give such people answers, the false shepherds will. The reason the authorities in China are afraid of Christians is that they will not follow totalitarian claims because they will only follow the ‘Good Shepherd’. Jesus has said,
“they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a strangers voice.” John 10:5
Jesus wants to shut off all false roads that lead nowhere. He is saying, “Don’t look anywhere else for salvation, I am the gate.”
Positive – there is one true shepherd
Jesus points straight at himself,
“I am the gate, whoever enters through me will be saved.” John 10:9
Who else can give us admission into God’s kingdom. This exclusive claim is a rebuttal against the pluralism of today. There are not many gates, just one. There is one ‘I am’ and if we do not enter through him we will remain forever outside. There is no other way to interpret this. No-one can say, ‘That is just your way of reading this.’ Nothing could be plainer, there is no ambiguity here. If we refuse to enter by this gate, salvation will never be ours.
Salvation is a great word in the New Testament. C.S.Lewis was a great scholar of both literature and Christianity. He had become a Christian from being an atheist. It had been the evidence that drew him to Christ. In his ‘Anthology’ he wrote,
“The glory of God and, as our only means to glorifying him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.”
He was not popular in the left-wing Senior Common Room of Magdalene college in those days.
Salvation is the business of heaven so it must be our business. As D. L. Moody, the American evangelist, walked down a Chicago street one day, he saw a man leaning against a lamp-post. The evangelist gently put his hand on the man's shoulder and asked him if he was a Christian. The fellow raised his fists and angrily exclaimed,
“Mind your own business!”
“I'm sorry if I've offended you,” said Moody, “but to be very frank, that IS my business!”1
At the conclusion of his gospel, Matthew summarised the business of the church, it is called ‘the Great Commission’,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus contrasts himself with all the religious leaders who are not following him.
“The thief comes only to to steal and to destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
A Choice about my relationship with Jesus must be made
Whoever people follow in life is eventually a matter of life and death. We all need to ask ourselves who we are following. Is it my own self interests? There is a fork in the road. One direction leads to death and the other to life – this is what Jesus is stressing.
In the 20th century many have claimed the loyalty of millions both in religious and political terms. These have all died. There have been many religious cult leaders who have promised the earth, but these all die too. Many of our churches are weak and our pulpits are too often not proclaiming Christ as the only way and the only focus for God’s people. People all around us are looking for food yet too seldom is this clearly given to them. Leaders, including religious leaders ask their followers to give their money, their time and even their lives in their cause and people, just like sheep, follow them. But the only God Shepherd is Jesus himself. It is he who first merits our devotion, not human leaders who pretend to take his place.
We need to look at our leaders and ask ourselves, ‘Are they self-sacrificing like Jesus?’, ‘Are they exploiting fellow humans?’, ‘Is it obvious that their message is primarily about Jesus?’
Rationalists often say that religion has been ‘the opiate of the people’ and that ‘religion has done more harm than good!’ Surely we can have a measure of agreement here. Any religion that does not focus on Jesus and seeks to lead people to Jesus will eventually become destructive. It can be used to increase people’s burdens, not lighten them. It can be bad news and not good news or ‘gospel’. Following religion can be tiresome and not a joy.
There are many young people who fear,
‘If I become a Christian won’t he steal away my time and prospects, isn’t he a killjoy and won’t he destroy my legitimate human freedom?’
Religion has done this. But Jesus Christ has changed all this. It is a real joy to serve him, even if the path is hard at times. It is such a joy to see God using us. In contrast,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life; and have it to the full.” John 10:10
We need this assurance. Young people must see this joy and life in us.
Churches will offer many signs and sacraments. Young people will be urged to be baptised or confirmed but too often this means nothing. Rituals save nobody, only a perpetual personal relationship with Jesus Christ can do that. Only Jesus is the gate, not even the church.
As Jesus was travelling down to Jerusalem someone asked him,
“Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Luke 13:23
Jesus had in fact answered this question earlier when he had said,
“Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14
In this case his response is much more personal. Jesus says to the everyone listening,
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able to.” Luke 13:24
This is a severe statement. Jesus is saying that a time is coming when it will be too late. There is no second chance after death. The door to eternal life will be closed and the Lord will say to many, who then seek admission
“I don’t know you or where you come from.” Luke 13:25
Some religious people will be puzzled because they were church members.
“Then they will say, ‘We ate with you and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” Luke 13:26
Such people, who had no personal relationship with Jesus, will not be saved. They made their choice so Jesus will reply,
“I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evil doers.” Luke 13:27
How awful it will be to be rejected by Almighty God for ever. Jesus recognises this and continued,
“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.” Luke 13:28
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave the same warning and same urgent appeal. Unless people have submitted to the Lord Jesus they are still responsible for their sin. He urges everybody,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction.” Matthew 7:13
A little later in this sermon he warns religious people who have no personal relationship with him,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21
He goes on to equate himself with his heavenly Father,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers.’” Matthew 7:22-23
Dr. Westcott was a Great Greek scholar who became Bishop of Durham. One day he was taking a train journey north and found an empty compartment and he settled down to read quietly. As the train was leaving, a young woman in a Salvation Army uniform entered his carriage. She quickly realised that the only other occupant was a real live bishop. The girl had not been converted for long and was very keen. She planned on how to lead this man to Christ; she didn’t think a bishop could be a real believer. She asked the bishop,
“Excuse me, sir, are you saved?
“Pardon me, what did you say?”
The girl thought this response proved that the bishop didn’t have a clue what she was talking about.
“I simply asked if you were saved.”
The godly bishop smiled at her and, with his eyes twinkling, said,
“Excuse me, my dear, but do you mean sotheis or sesomenos or sozomenos?”
“What do you mean,” she replied.
The kindly bishop then explained that in the New Testament three different tenses are used with regard to salvation, the past, the present and the future. He took out his pocket Bible and for the rest of the journey they looked together at the breadth of God’s salvation as revealed in Scripture.
‘I was saved’ from the penalty of my sin because Jesus has paid the price for me. (Titus 3:5; Ephesians 2:5,8; Romans 8:24; 2 Timothy 1:9)
‘I am saved’ from the power of sin because I have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to help me to live a godly life today (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 15:2)
‘I will be saved’ when I finally face God in judgment. (Matthew 10:22)
The evidence that I have been saved and will be saved is that in the present I am living for Jesus and am fighting the temptations to sin that we all face.
The following hymn describes beautifully the response Jesus expects from all of us. In verse 1 Jesus commands us to come to him. Verse 2 confirms that there is no sin so great that it cannot be forgiven. Verse 3 recognises that even with our uncertainties and fears we can come to Christ right now. Verse 4 reminds us that everything I really need can be found in Christ, if I am willing to come to him.
1 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.2 Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.3 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.4 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
The message Jesus brings to the world has never changed. He is the one and only gate to eternal life and he alone is the only good shepherd.
BVP
1 ‘Anecdotes and Illustrations of D.L.Moody’, Chicago, Rhodes and McClure 1877
