I AM the Door

I want to invite you to open you bibles with me to John Chapter 10. You know those home projects that are supposed to be simple? The ones where you think, "Oh, this'll just take an hour or two?" Well, that was exactly what we thought when two men from church came over to the house on Thursday to install a screen door. I mean, how hard could it be, right? But here's what happened - and I bet some of you can relate to this. One of them starts looking at the old door, and he notices these gaps in the weather stripping. And I'm not talking about small gaps - I'm talking about gaps big enough that we had our own little wildlife sanctuary moving in! Box beetles, spiders, ladybugs... it was like we were running a bed and breakfast for whatever could get inside of our house. He, being the thorough guy that he is, tries fixing the stripping first. And you'd think that would solve it, Right? But the gaps just wouldn't go away. And that's when we discovered the real issue. You see, whoever installed that original door - bless their heart right? Thats the southern way of saying they were wrong… - but whoever installed it, they just didn’t get it quite right. The frame wasn't secure. It wasn't even level. Now, I don't know much about door installation, that’s why I am thankful for these two men who had the knowledge,, but even I know that its pretty important to have it level and secured to the house! So, What started as a "quick" screen door installation turned into the two of them basically rebuilding the whole entrance. And, You know, as I stood there watching them work - and yes, I was supervising, God started speaking to my heart. It reminded me of something Jesus talks about in John chapter 10, Because just like that door at the parsonage, sometimes we think we've got everything figured out in our spiritual lives, but the frame of our life isn't quite right.

Before we dive into our text, can I ask you something? And I want you to really think about this - what kind of door are you counting on in your life right now? Is it secure? Is the foundation solid? Or are there gaps letting things in that maybe shouldn't be in your life? Let's read together John chapter 10. We're going to start at verse 7… 7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

You know, as I think about that door at the parsonage, I can't help but get excited about what I want to share with you this morning. Because in our text today, we're going to discover three things that will completely change how we view Jesus as our door. First, we're going to see Jesus introducing himself to some religious leaders called the Pharisees. Then we'll look at an invitation - because Jesus doesn't just tell us who He is, He invites us to experience who He is. And finally, we'll explore what I call the illumination - these amazing promises Jesus gives to everyone who walks through His door. But before we dive into all that, we need to understand what's happening here. Because this isn't just some random moment where Jesus decides to talk about doors. There's a story here. When we look at the chapters before this moment, we see that Jesus was speaking to two very different groups of Jews - one group believing and following Him, the other... well, not so much. And right there, in the middle of this tension, in chapter 8 Jesus starts talking about truth and freedom. One of my favorite lines that Jesus says in chapter 8 is “if you continue in my word, you really are my disciples.” Its about remaining and and abiding in him. Then comes the story in chapter 9 about the blind man.

Listen to this story. … Jesus takes mud - not just any mud, but mud mixed with His own spit - and smears it on this blind man's eyes. Ewww gross right? That’s defiantly not Covid protocol. Then He tells him, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam." Now, put yourself in this blind man's Jerusalem joggers for a moment. What has he got to lose, right? Other than his dignity, being led through the streets with mud on his face? And I can imagine the conversations on his way to the pool: "Hey, what's that on your face?" "Oh, you know, just some stranger's spit and dirt. He said it would help me see!” But here's where it gets good - he goes to that pool, washes off the mud, and… Bam! He can see! For the first time in his life, he's seeing colors, faces, the sky. I dunno… maybe even seeing his own reflection in the pool for the first time! If there was ever a perfect moment for someone to burst into "Amazing Grace" - you know, "I once was blind but now I see" - this was it! And it was a moment of celebration. But watch what happens next, because this is where things get really interesting. The whole city goes absolutely nuts! His neighbors - people who'd walked past him who saw him begging every single day - they can't even recognize him. Thats what is happing here… People are doing double-takes, "Wait... aren't you that blind guy who used to sit and beg?" And I love his response - he keeps saying, "Yep, that's me! I'm the one!” And You want to know the funny part? When they ask him how it happened, he gives the shortest testimony ever. Think about this… Not once… in this whole story does He go into detail about Jesus's spit or anything of the sort. He just says, "The man called Jesus made some mud." …… That’s it! Short and sweet. When I read this I’ve always wondered, why did he leave that part out? I dunno. I just wondered that. But here's where the story takes a serious turn. They bring him to the Pharisees. Now, this wasn't optional. In the jewish culture, if you were healed of anything, you had to be examined by the priests before you could rejoin community life. You see, the priest were there gate or the door back into community. And We see this pattern all through Scripture. Jesus often told people He healed, "Go, show yourself to the priest." For instance, in Luke chapter 5, when He heals a paralyzed man, or in Luke 17 with the ten lepers. Why? Well, Because community was incredibly important to Jesus. Still is. But watch what happens when the Pharisees get involved. Have you ever shared something incredible with someone and they didn’t seem to care, the Pharisees, Instead of celebrating this miracle, or celebrating that fact that this man is now able rot rejoin community, they're upset. They're actually angry that this man can see! They even drag his parents into it, and his poor parents are terrified. Because here's what you need to understand - one wrong word, and you're out. One wrong statement and they too would be excommunicated from community. Not just "don't come to church next week” kind of out, but completely cut off from your entire faith community. So his parents do what scared people often do - they punt, they deferred back to their son by saying "He's old enough, ask him yourself!" And when they ask the man again, you've got to admire his courage. He doesn't back down….. Jesus did this. Jesus healed me. I spent some time with the York family this week, and if you haven’t heard their testimony you need to call up and schedule a visit sometime and hear Jeffs testimony. I’m not gonna tell it because it’s his to share, but thats the expression, and the passion, and the heart I felt when I heard it… Jesus did it. But, their response? What did they do? They excommunicate him. Now, let me tell you why this is actually worse than being blind - because we were created to be people of worship, designed for community. And regardless of what our current online church culture might suggest, there's something powerful about being physically present with the body of Christ. To be cut off from that? That's like a kind of death. And for those of you listening online.. can I just plead with you.. we’re not the same without you. But the blind man, who can now see, heard these words… you were born entirely in sin, and are you trying to teach us…. The Bible says in chapter 9 verse 34, they threw him out.

And this is where I need us to stop for a moment. Because this is where I want to put a pin in our story and talk about something that affects every single one of us - and its called, shame. Because what's happening to this man isn't just about losing his community; it's about shame being heaped on top of a blessing. Brené Brown, a sociologist who's studied shame for years, calls it "the swampland of the soul." That's a pretty good description. Shame is that intense feeling that tells us we're not just wrong - but we're fundamentally flawed and unworthy of love and belonging. Thats what shame does. Think about this man's journey for a minute. He didn't choose to be born blind. He didn't choose how Jesus would heal him. He simply told the truth about what happened. Yet here he is, facing rejection and shame from the very people who should have been celebrating with him. And so, they shut the door on him and sent him away. Maybe you know what that feels like. Maybe you've experienced: The shame of a broken relationship The shame of a failure at work The shame of a past mistake Or maybe, like this man, the shame of being different in some way. But here's where the story takes a beautiful turn. Look at what happens next in chapter 9, and in verse 35: "Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him..." Stop right there. Don't miss this - what did Jesus do? ………..Jesus went looking for him. Church, I need you to hear this today: Jesus never stops looking for anyone. Ever. No matter how much shame you carry, no matter how dark life seems, no matter who has rejected you - Jesus is actively pursuing you. I know this personally. There have been times in my life when shame has felt like a heavy coat I couldn't take off. But just like Jesus found this man who was cast out, He found me. And He's still finding people today. I sat listening to Chucks testimony and I’m sure Chuck would stand today saying, Jesus found me, and he changed me, and he has invited me into this community. And Im sure this room is filled with people who would agree, and online those of you listening who would say, when I was lost, he found me. Luke 15:24 tells of parable of the lost son, Jesus says. : "For my beloved son was once dead, but now he's alive! Once he was lost, but now he is found!” Thats my life.. Think about this - our God has galaxies to sustain, universes to uphold, and over 7 billion people to care for. Yet, heaven doesn't throw a party over cosmic wonders or universal mysteries. No - do you know what makes heaven explode with joy? When one person... just one... comes home to God's love, through Christ. Let that sink in for a moment. The God who spun stars into space, who painted sunsets, who carved oceans... This God stops everything to pursue you. YOU. And that's not just beautiful - that's revolutionary. Because while religion says 'Find your way to God,' Jesus says 'I've come to find you.’ And that's exactly what we see in our text today - Jesus, as the Door, who doesn't just wait for us to find Him, but actively seeks us out…" he brings the door to us.

Now, lets look at what Jesus says in John chapter 10, verse 7: "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. Jesus isn't just making a statement here - He's dismantling an entire system. These religious leaders? They'd turned God's house into an exclusive club, and they were the bouncers at the door. For generations, they'd appointed themselves as spiritual gatekeepers. Yes, God had established the law and the priesthood, but they had twisted it. Instead of guiding people to God, they were deciding who was worthy enough to approach Him. Remember our door at the parsonage? That faulty frame that let everything in that shouldn't get in, and kept everything out that needed to get in? That's exactly what the Pharisees had done with God's law. They had built a religious system with a catastrophically faulty frame: It looked impressive on the outside They knew every rule, every sacrifice, every letter of the law But here's the tragedy - their frame wasn't secured to God's heart. They were so busy protecting the door, they missed the Door Himself standing right in front of them."

But Jesus? The frame of Jesus as the door is completely different. When Jesus says "I am the door," He's not just talking about any ordinary entrance - He's revealing the very character of God wrapped in the framework of grace. Think about His frame... Every detail crafted by Christ-like love, every element designed for our redemption:

His frame is full of grace - "For by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:8) His frame overflows with mercy - "But God, who is rich in mercy" (Ephesians 2:4) His frame holds forgiveness - "In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14) His frame radiates joy and peace - and The fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)

What we realize is that Jesus as the door isn't just a door of religion - it's a door of constant relationship. It's not just an entrance - it's an embrace. Every other door in your life will eventually close on you, but Jesus? He's the door that will never shut you out, never wear out, and never let you down. Every door in life has a closing time - except Jesus.

But here's where we need to be honest with ourselves. If Jesus is the true door, why do we keep trying other doors in our life? Let me ask you something - and I'm preaching to myself here too - what doors are you still playing with? Maybe it’s: The door of perfection - "If I just get everything right…" The door of control - "If I can just manage everything…" The door of success - "Just one more achievement…" The door of approval - "If people just accept me…" The door of self-sufficiency - "I can handle this on my own..." Truth be told, these are the doors God has been working in my life. He’s always working in them.. the question is… am I leaving the door open for him? And You know what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13? He tells us we can walk through all these doors, gain everything the world offers, but without love - without Christ - we gain nothing…….. You know, the other night I was walking around outside of our house in the dark. and I Heard something rustling in the trees. My phone flashlight wasn't cutting it, and here I am - your pastor, a grown man - 43 years old and what do you think I did when head that sound? I ran for the bright lights of the inside of the house. Do you know why? Because when you know what real light is, you don't settle for shadows. Just like that man who was healed from blindness - once he experienced true sight, he couldn't go back to darkness. And once we experience Jesus as the true door, these other doors just don't satisfy us anymore.

Lets look at verse 9 together.. Jesus says, - "If anyone enters by me..." Do you know what that is? Its an invitation. Notice He doesn't say "if any perfect person" or "if any religious person" or "if any deserving person." Or any person made whole, or any person without a disabilities, or anything else… what does he say??? ………..He says “anyone.” Do you understand how revolutionary this was? In that moment, Jesus was speaking to everyone: To the once-blind man who'd been thrown out of community. To the disciples trying to understand And yes, even to those Pharisees who were plotting against Him I bet, he even was talking to the samaritans and the gentiles that may have been listening. Church, I wonder today - where do you find yourself in this story? Because some of us have become professional admirers of Jesus. Let me show you the difference: An admirer stands at a distance; a follower draws near An admirer takes pictures of the door; a follower walks through it An admirer knows about Jesus; a follower knows Jesus An admirer has information; a follower experiences transformation The invitation isn't just to admire the door - it's to walk through it. And this invitation? It's for ANYONE... which means it's for you, right where you are, right now. Can I speak to your heart for a moment? And I'm asking this as someone who deeply cares about your soul: If Jesus is truly THE door to life… Why are we content just standing here, looking at it? Why has our prayer life become a task to complete rather than a Father to meet? Why has our worship become a routine to endure rather than a King to celebrate? Why has God's Word become a duty to fulfill rather than a love letter to cherish?

Could it be... that we've been seduced by the world's fancy doorways? Those doors with their flashing lights and empty promises? Living off the words, when one door closes another opens.. why not follow a door that never closes? But here's what I know: You will never find satisfaction standing in doorways - any doorways. Because you weren't created to be a doorway inspector. You were created for something far greater… You were created to walk through THE Door - Jesus Himself - into the very presence of the father.

That's exactly what the Pharisees did - they were professional door admirers. They had memorized every detail, could quote every Scripture, knew every rule... but they refused to walk through the door standing right in front of them.they made their entire life about knowing the father, and the one chance to really known him personally, they refused to walk in that door. You know, I've been thinking about their work on our door. They didn't just fix it and check it off their list. They didn't just patch it up and say 'good enough.' No - they made absolutely sure that door would serve its purpose. They wanted to make certain that anyone - whether they were coming or going - could use that door freely, safely, without struggle. To be honest, they reminded me of what a Christ like life should look like. While others build barriers, they removed them While others might say 'close enough,' they went the extra mile While others might create obstacles, they created opportunities

That's exactly what Jesus promises when we enter through Him - freedom to go in and freedom to walk out and to find pasture where we find peace and rest in him alone, as our shepherd. Look at what is promised in Romans 5:8-9: "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Notice what this actually says... 'while we were still sinners.' Not after we got better. Not once we proved ourselves worthy. Not when we finally had it all together. WHILE we were sinners. That means right where you are, in whatever state you're in, Jesus is saying, 'This door... MY door... it's for you.’ Maybe you're carrying shame - This door is for you Maybe you've failed a thousand times - This door is for you Maybe you feel completely unworthy... this door is for YOU You know what that means? It means the very things you think disqualify you from coming to Jesus are the exact reasons He's inviting you to come through His door. Because here's the beautiful truth - Jesus doesn't wait for you to be perfect to let you in. He lets you in so He can perfect you. This is what Wesley called 'going on to perfection' - not a perfection of performance, but a perfection of love. With every step through this door, with every moment in His presence, He's transforming our hearts until we love as He loves. That's why this moment is so crucial. God's prevenient grace has led you to this door. His justifying grace opens it. And His sanctifying grace? That's what happens when you walk through it - day by day, moment by moment, being transformed from glory to glory.

As Peter comes, let me close with this… There are three kinds of people here today, and I believe God has a specific word for each of you: Some of you have never really walked through the door of Jesus. You've studied it, thought about it, maybe even admired it - but you've never given Him your life. Today isn't just another Sunday; it's your day of salvation. Stop admiring, start entering. Others of us - and I include myself here - we've walked through the door but we're still playing with other doors. Those backup plans, those old habits, those "just in case" exits. Here's the truth: You can't experience the fullness of Jesus while keeping one foot in other doorways. Why not go deeper? And for those carrying shame - feeling excluded, rejected, or not good enough - hear this: Your shame says "hide" - Jesus says “come”\ Your shame says "not worthy" - Jesus says "I made you worthy” Your shame says "alone" - Jesus says "never leaving” "The door is open. The invitation is clear. And you don't have to walk through it alone. I'm here - we're here - ready to walk this journey with you. Before you leave today, let's talk. This could be your moment to move from admiring Jesus to following Jesus. Church, can I hear an Amen?"

Let's stand if you are able, and pray together… Father, I stand before You right now, and I'm reminded of that blind man who encountered Jesus. Lord, in this room today, there are people standing at different doorways, and I pray for each one of them. For those who have never walked through the door of salvation - Lord, I pray that right now, in this moment, You would remove every barrier of pride, every wall of fear, every hesitation that's holding them back. Give them the courage to stop being admirers and become followers. You have great things in store for this body… but to accomplish it, we will need people who are all in. Help us Lord, and bring to us people with hearts burning for you, but lead us to those who need you. So that they too can taste and see that you are good.

For my brothers and sisters who know You but are still playing with other doors - Jesus, we confess our divided hearts today. Forgive us for thinking we can have it both ways. Give us the strength to close every door that leads away from You, to nail them shut, and to run fully into Your arms. Bring us together Lord, to be a community. You’ve pursued us, and found us, and saved us.. all for your glory. In your precious name, amen.

Go forth today, not as admirers, but as followers. Not as spectators, but as participants. Not as those who simply saw the door, But as those who walked through it and found life. Until we meet again, keep walking in His grace, living in His mercy, and resting in His peace. Amen. *