[2026. 4. 19.] I Am the Gate for the Sheep | John 10:1–10

[2026. 4. 19.] I Am the Gate for the Sheep | John 10:1–10

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 4. 19. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 28
본문: 요한복음 10:1-10
제목: 나는 양의 문이라

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ self-declarations using Ego Eimi—“I am…”—appear seven times. Today’s passage contains the third of those seven.

What were the first and second? (1) “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), (2) “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). And now the third declaration appears in verse 7 of today’s passage: [v.7] Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”

You may wonder: “A gate for the sheep? Do sheep have a gate?” What is a gate? When we enter a house, we enter through a gate or door. When we leave, we go out through the door. So “the gate for the sheep” may sound unfamiliar to us, but the Jews who heard Jesus’ words at that time understood it easily.

New Zealand is one of the countries with the highest number of sheep in the world. There are currently about 24 million sheep—roughly five times the human population—so for those of us living here, sheep are quite familiar. We eat a lot of lamb as well.

In Jesus’ time, Israel also had many sheep. The land was more suitable for shepherding than farming. The population at that time is estimated between 500,000 and 1 million. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, about 250,000 sheep were used during the Passover sacrifice. Based on this, scholars estimate that Israel had around 2 million sheep—about two sheep per person. So Jesus’ illustration was something the people could easily understand.

However, the way sheep are raised in New Zealand and in Israel is different. Both practice open grazing, but one major difference appears in today’s passage. Where do sheep sleep at night in New Zealand? They do not sleep in a pen; they simply sleep in the fields. But in Israel, sheep grazed in the fields during the day and were brought into a sheepfold at night.

I have not been to Israel, but pastors who have gone say that in the evening, they saw sheep lining up to enter the sheepfold.

In New Zealand, there are no predators that attack sheep. But in the region of Palestine, wolves, jackals, hyenas, lions, leopards, and bears attacked sheep. And because Israel has large temperature differences between day and night, sheep could freeze to death if they were not gathered together.

Therefore, shepherds in Israel brought their sheep into stone-built sheepfolds at night. These sheepfolds did not have a physical door. Instead, the shepherd himself lay down across the entrance and became the gate. When I asked ChatGPT to generate an image of this, it produced a picture like this. (Image—sheepfold and the gate for the sheep)

Jesus speaks with this scene as the background: “I am the gate for the sheep.”

Today, through Jesus’ declaration “I am the gate for the sheep,” I want us to share the meaning He gives to our community.

 

1. Jesus alone is the only gate of salvation. (The Gate of Salvation)

[v.7] Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.” Here Jesus does not say, “I am one of the gates.” He says, “I am the gate for the sheep.” A sheepfold does not have multiple gates—only one. And the sheep must enter through that gate to live.

Sheep enter the stone sheepfold through the gate, but there were others who tried to enter by climbing over the wall. Who were they? [v.1] “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.” What is the difference between a thief and a robber? Both steal, but a thief steals secretly, while a robber steals openly with violence or threats.

As I prepared this message, I remembered when our home was robbed. In the house we lived in before our current one, we came home after Sunday service and sensed something was wrong. We found the master bedroom and our oldest child’s room ransacked, drawers pulled out, and belongings scattered across the floor. The thief had entered through a window connected to the garage at the back of the house.

Why does Jesus say this? He is saying that sheep can receive salvation only through Him, the gate for the sheep. Anyone who climbs in by another way is not approaching the sheep for salvation.

Beloved congregation, our only Savior is Jesus. People ask, “Why is Jesus the only Savior? Can’t people be saved through Mohammed, Buddha, or other religions? Why must it be only Jesus? Why Christianity?”

What is the reason? Because only Jesus died for me. He gave His life as the payment for my sin. Some may say, “But many parents have died saving their children—couldn’t they also be saviors?” No. Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection were according to God’s salvation plan. Jesus alone is the only Savior because God has ordained it so.

[Acts 4:12] Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Only the Son of God, sent by the Father, came to this earth, died for our sins, and rose again—becoming the only gate of salvation and the only way to God. Do you believe this?

[John 14:6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

People say there are many paths to salvation. Modern people, influenced by secularism, seek many “doors” to solve life’s problems. They make money their door, success their door, education their door, or religious rituals their door. But remember: none of these doors give true life—Zoe.

Jesus offered His own body on the cross as the gate of salvation. He became the only way for us to be saved and come to God.

[Application] Do I believe that Jesus alone is the only Savior? In my actual life, is there anything I rely on or pursue more than Jesus?

 

2. In Jesus, we receive safe protection. (The Gate of Protection)

[v.9] “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

Entering through Jesus, the gate for the sheep, does not end with salvation. He says they will “come in and go out and find pasture.”

When we think of sheep, we imagine them as “white and clean.” But real sheep are neither white nor clean. Sheep are dirty. Tourists who come to New Zealand and see sheep for the first time want to take pictures near the farms. But when they get close, they cannot stay long. Why? Because the smell is overwhelming. Sheep live among their own waste, and it sticks to their wool.

Sheep are also very weak animals. Their eyesight is poor—they must come very close to recognize something and run away. They have little sense of direction and cannot run fast. When wolves chase them, they cannot escape. Unlike giraffes or zebras, they cannot kick or defend themselves. They simply get attacked. So the most important thing for sheep is safety and protection.

When the shepherd becomes the gate and guards the entrance, the sheep inside are safe.

Humans are the same. Like sheep, we cannot see even one step ahead. And humans cannot defeat evil spirits. What do people outside Christ do? They perform shamanistic rituals to appease spirits—because humans cannot overcome evil spirits.

But believers who are in Jesus, the gate for the sheep, are different. In Jesus, we are absolutely safe.

[Romans 8:1] Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Who condemns? Satan. Satan says to God, “Look at this person’s sin. They hate their brother, have impure thoughts, do not love, do not forgive, and disobey Your Word. This person deserves death.” This is accusation and condemnation.

When we die, Satan will come and accuse us: “This person does not deserve heaven. I will take them to hell. Look at their sins.”

But Jesus will also be there. And He will say: “You are right. This person is indeed a sinner who deserves hell. But I paid for all their sins on the cross. They are in Me. They are no longer a sinner. They are safe in Me. No one can condemn them.”

No matter how much thieves or robbers try to enter, they cannot break through Jesus, the gate for the sheep. Why? Because Jesus’ battle is not ongoing—He already won through His death and resurrection. The battle is over.

[John 16:33] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The phrase “I have overcome” is nenikēka—perfect tense. What is perfect tense? An action completed in the past whose results continue into the present. Jesus’ victory over Satan through the cross and resurrection continues even now.

Beloved congregation, are you anxious? Afraid? Remember: we are inside Jesus, the gate for the sheep. Outside the sheepfold, wolves howl and lions and bears roar, but they cannot harm those who are in Jesus. It is like this: (Image—dog behind iron bars). Satan is locked inside a cage. In the Lord, do not fear—be bold.

Let us declare in faith: “Jesus has already won.” “I am in Jesus.” “In Jesus, I am safe.” “The Lord, the gate for the sheep, protects and guards me.”

[Application] Am I in Jesus? If I am still anxious and trembling, why do I think that is?

 

3. Jesus gives abundant life. (The Gate of Life)

[v.10] “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus does not merely give life—He gives abundant life. Abundant life means an overflowing life, a spiritual satisfaction that comes from an intimate relationship with God.

The world promises many things: “If you work hard, you will become this,” “If you rise to a high position, you will be able to do that,” “If you have money, you can enjoy this.” But what is the reality? Even with success, there is emptiness. Even with money, there is anxiety. Even with many people around, there is loneliness. At the end of life, emptiness remains.

Nothing in this world can fill that emptiness. Pascal called it the “Godshaped vacuum.” He said, “There is a Godshaped vacuum in every human heart, and unless it is filled, every person will feel emptiness.”

Where does what fills that emptiness come from? From heaven.

[James 1:17] Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…Who came down from heaven? Jesus. He gives every good and perfect gift.

How does John 6:51 describe Him? [John 6:51] “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” This is the first Ego Eimi: “I am the bread of life.” We feel emptiness because we lack true life. True life drives out emptiness and gives true satisfaction. It makes our lives abundant. When we believe in Jesus, He—God Himself—comes into us and fills the empty space in our hearts.

Do you know missionary Jim Elliot? He is the real person portrayed in the film End of the Spear (written by Steve Saint). He and four fellow missionaries flew over the Huaorani tribe in the Ecuadorian jungle, dropping gifts and attempting peaceful contact to share the gospel. Eventually, they landed their plane on a riverbank, but were suddenly attacked with spears, and all five young missionaries were martyred. Jim Elliot was 28 years old.

Newspapers called it a “needless sacrifice” and a “foolish death,” asking, “Why were these lives wasted?”

But his wife, Elisabeth Elliot, said: “The world called it a waste. But God sees differently.” Then she read a line from Jim Elliot’s journal: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

He had abundant life in Christ. And he gave his life to bring that life to the Huaorani people. Later, the five widows and seven children went into the tribe, served them, and eventually the entire tribe believed in Jesus. One of the men who killed the missionaries, Mincaye, accepted the gospel, was transformed, and became an evangelist traveling the world sharing his testimony until he went to be with the Lord in 2014 at age 80. (The man next to him in the photo is Steve Saint, son of Nate Saint.) Jim Elliot’s martyrdom inspired countless missionaries worldwide, and A missionary movement arose on university campuses. What was first called a “wasted death” later became known as “the most fruitful martyrdom.”

What did they have inside them? They had the abundant life Jesus gives. That abundant life transformed an entire tribe. Seeing those who once killed them become believers and evangelists helps us deeply reflect on what Jesus meant by “abundant life.”

Abundant life is not living long. It is living in obedience to God’s will, enjoying joy and peace, sharing true hope, and walking with God daily.

Beloved congregation, may all of us enjoy and share the abundant life found in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Application] Am I living busily yet feeling empty? What do I think will remove that emptiness and make me happy? What am I doing to cultivate an intimate relationship with Jesus?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.