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Imagine you are at an Ideal Homes Exhibition and enjoying looking around the different exhibits. Everything you could possibly need or think about is represented. Home design, health and beauty, garden furniture, electronic products, etc. As you wander around you see someone suddenly collapse and die right in front of you. As you look around to see if anyone else has seen this a sign flashes up on a far wall saying THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME ANYONE STAYS HERE IS 78 MINUTES. You turn to someone and ask that person if they had seen it too. As you point to the far wall another sign comes on THE VIRUS AT THIS EXHIBITION HAS INFECTED EVERYONE. Then you see someone else fall down dead, then another. The first sign flashes again, then another saying THE MAXIMUM TIME ANYONE HAS SPENT HERE IS 118 MINUTES. You look at your watch and, in a panic, realise that you can't remember how long you have been there. You reason that, if the average time anyone has is 78 minutes, and the maximum is 118 minutes then some must last for much less time. You ask someone you remember following in how long he thinks he has been here and he doesn't know either. You both begin to panic and wonder what to do when another sign lights up on another wall saying THIS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT. Would you take it?
Someone once declared that life was such a risky business that no one gets out alive. It is true that death is 100% successful in this world of ours. In this passage Jesus is saying quite clearly that it is only through him we can escape the sin and death that has infected this world. It is encouraging to note that, in verse 9 he says:
"I am the door; if anyone enters by me he will
be saved."
There is no equivocation about this. The footnote in my Bible gives
an alternative of "Will be kept safe".
It is not what we do for ourselves but what he does for us.
THIS IS THE WAY OUT
It is encouraging to realise that he did not say, "I am the mountain you have to climb", or "I am the exam you have to pass", or even "I am the text you have to memorise". Other faiths would have us climb mountains but the Christian faith points, not to a mountain but to a man, the Man Christ Jesus.
HE IS THE WAY OUT
Christianity is not a philosophy, or a collection of good ideas. It is not a list of doctrines, or even a book. It does not hinge on any of these things, it all hinges on the door. Are we going to enter by the door? Tradition is not the door. Doctrine is not the door. Baptism is not the door. Prayer is not the door. The door is not the self-esteemism that is prevalent in today's world. Jesus is the door. Anything or anyone else is "another gospel" (Gal.1:6-9, John 10:8).
HE ALONE IS THE WAY OUT
It is encouraging to realise that those who enter by this door "will come in and go out and find pasture". We have seen from Colossians that:
"In Christ the fullness of the Deity lives in
bodily form, and [we] have been given fullness in Christ, who is the
Head over every power and authority…"(Col.2:9-10)
Those who enter by the door will be fully supplied and find satisfaction, safety and fulfilment. In other words "Pasture".
Jesus' hearers did not understand what he had been teaching them about
the shepherd and the flock (v.v.6-7) and so he told them more plainly
in these verses so that they would understand. Jesus wants us
to understand. Have we understood?
How long have you been here?
How much longer will you be here?
Do you see the clear sign that says I AM THE DOOR?
May we who see clearly take every opportunity this week to point out Jesus to those with whom we meet.
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