The Door of Life.

METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA

DIOCESE OF OSOGBO

FOURTH SUNDAY IN EASTER, 3^RD MAY, 2020.

GOD’S WORD TO GOD’S PEOPLE.

THEME: The Door of Life.

             “Ilekun Iye.”

TEXT: John 10:9

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

“Emi ni ilekun: bi enikan ba gba odo mi wole, oun ni a o gbala, yoo wole, yoo si jade, yoo si ri koriko.”

According to en.wikipedia.org, “a door is a hinged or otherwise movable barrier which allows ingress and egress into an enclosure.” The same source further states that “a door’s essential and primary purpose is to provide security by controlling access to the portal (door way)” It is then obvious that door is important at any building as it serves the purpose of protection and security to occupants of such building. This type of door is visible and well known to us, because there is none of us who lives in a house without doors. The door mentioned here, however, is an imagery used by Jesus Christ to illustrate the relationship which exists between shepherd and sheep in a given fold. It is an important message with deep spiritual meaning. In the New Testament scholarship, the issue of door is found to be the third “I AM” saying of Jesus Christ. According to John, the writer of the fourth gospel, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, reveals the true nature and character of God to the world and that the “I AM” claims has the seal of authority of Christ’s oneness with the Father. It has a link with the name of God revealed to Moses in the wilderness at the scene of the burning bush in Exodus 3:6, 13:14.

Jesus Christ opened his teaching in John Chapter 10 following the excommunication of the beggar in chapter 9 of John with an illustration which was familiar to the Jews, who were his listeners. In the Jewish land, the sheepfold was usually an enclosure made of rocks, with an opening for the door (John 10:1-6) but without door fixed to it. Usually, it is the shepherd who guards the flock both in the day, and at night by lying across the opening in place of door. The true shepherd comes into the fold through the door, and his flock recognize him, whereas thieves and robbers could never enter through the door hence they have to climb over the wall and enter the fold through deception. But the fact remains that the sheep will never listen to them nor will it follow them. Rather, the sheep will follow only the voice of their own shepherd. This teaching of Christ was, however, difficult for the Jews who were listening to comprehend. They neither understood what he was saying nor why he gave the teaching which honestly was not like the parables recorded in the other gospels. Contextually, the occasion for the teaching was the excommunication of the former blind beggar from the Synagogue as contained in John 9. According to the story of the man born blind who later regained his sight through his personal contact with Jesus Christ, one may conclude that the Jewish leaders were false leaders (shepherds) who did not care for this man’s welfare as God did (Jer. 29:11). Rather, they maltreated him because of his faith in Jesus who healed him and threw him out of the Synagogue for his testimony about Jesus Christ, who restored his sight. But to further show the care of God for his Children, Jesus Christ, the true shepherd, came to him and took him who was sent out into the fold of God’s children (John 9:35-38). Are you here today without any help at a time like this, when COVID-19 has caused total lockdown to our system and thus makes things difficult for us? Are people around you seem to be false shepherd like the Jewish leaders? Here is a good news about someone who has made himself to be the Door just for your protection and security. He is Jesus who cares for you and ready to provide all you need. (1Pet. 5:7).

In this teaching, the sheepfold is the nation of Israel (John 10:16) and the Gentiles including you and me are the other sheep not of the fold of Israel, but who also need to be protected, secured, saved. and brought to stay together with the Israelites under one shepherd who loves and cares for them. Because of lack of understanding on the part of the Jews, Jesus Christ decided to gave the application of his teaching (John 10:7-10). He claimed to be “The Door” twice in these verses showing that he is the Door of the sheepfold who makes it possible for the sheep to go out of the fold and as well come back into it without any difficulty. The Pharisees threw the beggar out of the Synagogue, but the Lord (giver of life) led him, not back into Judaism, but into the flock of God. Jesus Christ is the Door of Salvation (John 10:9). Those who trust him are allowed into the fold of Christ, and are allowed to enjoy great privilege of going in and out and finding pasture (Ps. 23). They shall be part of the new community where members’ welfare are taken serious (Acts 2:42-47). Where peoples’ need, burden and yoke give the shepherd (leader) much concern. Is our church and fellowship like this? This is what today’s church ought to be.

As the door, Jesus Christ delivers sinners from bondage and leads them into liberty. Not only that, Jesus is able to keep all believers safe and sound in this turbulent time of COVID-19. How many of us, Pastors, are still true Shepherd willing to lay down our lives for the church as Jesus did? (John 15:13) Do we care for the church members or exploit and abuse them? The story of the beggar and the Jewish leaders in John 9 is a good example of what the thieves and robbers can do. Pastors and leaders who are interested only in providing for themselves and protecting themselves. Covetous people like the Pharisees who take advantage of poor widows and vulnerable members of their congregations (Luke 16:14; Mk. 12:40). They are leaders who turn God’s temple into den of robbers (Matt. 21:13). I am today, creating this awareness so that all believers may know that we have false prophets/shepherds in the church who are agents of the devil. They are here to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), but Jesus has his own disciples who have been commissioned to give abundant life to all who believe and put their trust in Christ alone. It is therefore clear that when we go to God through the Door (Jesus) we receive life and salvation. As we go in and out with and through Christ, we have abundant life to enjoy in the rich pastures of our God here on earth and therein heaven. Men and brethren know this fact; Jesus did not only give his life for us, but he gives his life to us even now that through us, other people may have eternal life which we had in him. He became our stepping stone unto great grace and next level of freedom, glory, honour, fullness and abundant life. Let us pray:

1.   Pray that Jesus will be and remain the solid door of your life, family, business etc which no wicked one or pandemic can penetrate.

2.   Pray that as the Door of your life, Jesus will not allow any virus, sickness or death to come into your body.

3.   And pray that as the Door of Nigeria, Jesus Christ will now open and allow all coronavirus remaining in our nation to go out of it permanently. 

Rt. Rev. A.K.O. Ogunrinde, JP, FICT.

Bishop, Diocese of Osogbo.

Chairman OS-CAN.