Christ the Door

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)

The LORD Jesus, as the Door of His sheep, assures the salvation and preservation of His sheep—those whom the Father gave Him before the foundation of the world, for whom He came and laid down His life, John 10:11. In Biblical times, shepherds rested in the entryway to the sheepfold to ensure that nothing could harm them and that no thieves could take any of them away. He determines their peace and safety and only through Him can they enter and find pasture, John 10:9.

What is the purpose of a door and how does its functionality symbolize the person and work of the LORD Jesus?

First, a door is designed to give access and passage:The LORD Jesus is the Door of Salvation because it is through Him alone that anyone has access to God’s salvation by His perfect obedience unto death. John 14:6 states, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Second, a door provides privacy and security: The LORD Jesus is the Savior and Protector of His sheep. In Him they are safe from all external harm and find rest in God’s grace and peace. John 10:28 confirms, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”

Throughout the Scriptures, the door symbolizes the person and work of the LORD Jesus. For example, consider the Ark’s Door in Genesis 7:1. When God intended to destroy the earth with a flood and instructed Noah to build an ark for his family and the animals He purposed to spare, there was only one door. God brought them into the ark and shut the door. This was not a voluntary choice on the part of the creatures but a direct command for those God had determined to save. Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD, Genesis 6:9. Only eight people were saved, exactly as God purposed. The pitch inside and outside the ark covered the wood allowing it to withstand God’s judgment. Similarly, Noah and his family were saved not just by God’s decree but by being brought into the ark through that single door, symbolizing the LORD Jesus. Everyone else perished, just as all perish except those for whom Christ has borne their judgment.

Other doors that typify the LORD Jesus include the Passover Door where the blood of the lamb was sprinkled causing God’s judgment to pass over that house [Exodus 12:13] and the inner doors of the Temple [Hebrews 10:4] which only the High Priest could enter once a year with the blood of sacrifice. Animal blood could only cover sin but Christ’s sacrifice removed sin once and for all, Hebrews 10:10-14.

Also consider the Door of the Cross, through which Christ entered into judgment for His people and bore away their sin [Isaiah 53:11] and the Door of Christ’s tomb [Matthew 28:6] from which He emerged victorious after three days, conquering sin and death and guaranteeing the hope of eternal life for all for whom He paid their sin debt.

Therefore, the LORD Jesus is the only Door to everlasting life, Matthew 7:13-14. Scripture calls it narrow because it grants access only to those that the Father gave Him and only those may enter as He dictates. It is as narrow as Christ and His finished work on the cross!