Jesus uses figures of speech here to explain a key truth about the kingdom of God which
He stands for, and has been preaching about since the time John the Baptist baptized Him and
witnessed about Him, that He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
There are key terms associated with these figures of speech. For example; sheep pen, shepherd, gate,
thief, robber, watchman. Speaking the truth in love, Jesus puts it clear that the man who does not enter
the sheep by the gate is a thief and robber. A question now is triggered in our minds; what is the
difference between a thief and a robber? What makes them bad or good? A robber is
someone who commits robbery according to the Oxford dictionary. Robbery is a crime of
taking or attempting to take anything of value by force, the threat of force, or by putting the victim
in fear. A thief will pick something when they are hiding to avoid being seen. A gate is a
hinged barrier used to close an opening in a wall, fence, or hedge. Jesus entered the sheep
pen by the gate. He is also the gate. He enters and goes out with a catch, all who belong to Him.
He leads them out and they follow Him for they know His voice and they will never follow a
stranger. The place He enters is the house of Israel. He rescues them from the consequences of the law
, Judaism and all forms of dead religion. He then becomes the gate into the kingdom of God and also
shepherded to all those he rescues. Jesus goes ahead to explain the mission of the thief, steal, kill and
destroy. Those who enter by Him, they find salvation. They find life and they have it in full.
Life is measurable. It is determined by how you enter. If you enter life by Jesus, who is the gate to
life, you will get it in full. You find salvation for your souls. Are you struggling to have the life God
promised? The solution is to enter life by the Gate, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
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