Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
It was 1942. There was a packed nightclub in Boston and a fire broke out. There was chaos, there was smoke, and obviously people started running toward the exit, running toward the doors—to places of safety.
A Tragic Story
One particular group of people—about 800 people—went to a certain section of the nightclub, right next to the door that they thought was going to rescue them. Unfortunately, all the people pinned the door against one another and the door was jammed and it never opened up. 800 people died right there near the doorway that they thought was really the exit that was going to save them.
There are all kinds of doors for people to go through, and some of them are very dangerous. But the one we're going to look at today is the most important door that we could walk through. It's the door to Jesus Christ.
Our Verse of the Day is John chapter 10, verse 9. Jesus says, "'Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.'"
The Context of John
As we look at this, the context of John is really: "These things have been written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing you may have life in His name." That's the context of John.
Here in John chapter 10, it's really the whole imagery of a sheep and a shepherd. As we look at this passage, very simply, we're going to look at two reasons to walk through the door, to come to Jesus Christ.
Number One: Jesus Is the Gate
Number one: Jesus is the gate. We're to enter through it. It says right there in the verse: "Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved."
What is this really saying? Well, it's saying what John says really four chapters later in John chapter 14, verse 6, where Jesus says: "I am the way"—not a way—"I am the way, the truth, and the life. And no one comes to the Father except through Me."
By the way, as you look at the imagery here in the passage, the shepherds wanted to make sure that their sheep were saved from wolves, from thieves who could come and kill and destroy. It's very important that we enter through the gate of Jesus.
In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus even said: "Enter in at the narrow gate, for the gate is wide that leads to destruction, and many go through it. But enter in through this narrow gate and walk in this narrow path."
Number Two: Jesus Is Refreshment for the Sheep
Secondly, Jesus is refreshment for the sheep. Once we go through the door, once we go through the gate to Jesus Christ, He promises refreshment. The verse says: "Those who come in through Me will be saved. They will come and go freely and find good pastures."
Refreshment is the idea here. You know, sheep would be in the sheepfold, but they wouldn't just stay there in the fold. They'd have to go places and find grass and water so that they could receive the fresh refreshment and the nourishment that they needed for their bodies.
What Should We Do with This Passage?
What should we do with this passage? It's very straightforward, friends.
Number one: enter through the gate. Enter through the gate to the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in Him alone, because He really is the way, the truth, and the life.
Secondly, if you've entered through Him, pursue abundant life. In the same context, Jesus said: "I've come that they may have life abundantly." Don't just live life. We should thrive—not just survive, but actually thrive in our life.
It's as if Jesus is saying: I made you. I love you. I care for you. If you come through this gate to Me, I will give you refreshment.
I love that verse in Revelation chapter 7 that says: "Come to Me. I am the springs of living water."
Jesus is the gate. May we come to Him and find real refreshment.
