Session 3: I AM the Door (Gate) – John 10:1-10

This post is part of an 8-part series from the book of John. The study looks at Jesus’s ‘I AM’ passages from John and passages in the Old Testament which echo the heart of the message of Jesus and reveal the way in which the Old Testament has reflected the name. They open with introductory questions, reading the passage, and then some observation and interpretation questions follow. The sessions end with personal application questions. Please feel free to share an application response or comment on the study itself in the section below.

Introduction

What good or harm are doors or gates?

When expecting visitors and greeting them at the door, what do you do? Does that change based on your familiarity with the visitors?

Read John 10:1-10.

Reading Questions

Jesus uses the metaphor of a sheep pen in these verses. Take a moment to discuss what each of the aspects in the metaphor may stand for: pen, outside the pen, gatekeeper, thief/robber/stranger, sheep.

What is the difference between being called the gate and the gatekeeper?

In these verses, what do the sheep do? And not do?

Old Testament Links

Psalm 118:19-24 includes one of the rare mentions of a gate or door in the Old Testament. What does the psalmist demonstrate is the importance of the door?

The entrance to the courtyard of the tabernacle was also a type of gate. Found in Exodus 27:9-19, compare the courtyard to the sheep pen of John 10.

Application

Consider the qualities you discussed in the first introductory question about doors/gates. Which of these do you associate with Jesus Christ?

Which of Jesus’s qualities do you demonstrate when meeting with people? Are there any that you would like to incorporate?

Are your own tendencies more of a gatekeep, gate, or sheep? Does it change at times? Describe how you act that way and which characteristics you may prefer to take on.