The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 57

Ver. 9.-Chri,st the Door. A homely and simple metaphor; yet how full of meaning, how precious, how suggestive, to every hearer of the gospel! '!'here may be a door to a sheepfold, to a house, to a palace, to a fortress. There may be a door to a dungeon, to a church, to a torture-chamber, to a royal trea.,ury. A door may be of material as weak as wicker, or as strong as oak, iron, or brass. The door may be opened by a latch which a child may lift, or it may be secured by bolts and bars that may resist the blow of a battering-ram. It may stand always open, so that every passer-by may enter by it; or it may be locked, so that only such as have the key or the password can gain entrance. I. MAN'S SPIRITUAL CONDITION IS SUCH AS TO MAKE A DOOR LIKE THIS MOST D~;SIRABLE, A door presumes a "within" and a" without." If those on the outside are exposed to want, to danger, to misery; and if those within enjoy all the advantages which the excluded wanderers lack-in such a case, the interest attaching to the door of ingress is manifest. Now, the spiritual state of sinful men is pitiable and distressing. In God is all good; apart from God no true good is accessible to man. The way to God is, then, to us a matter of vital importance. Christ declares himself to be such a Way. He is the Door; by which, translating the language from that of poetry to that of theology, we understand he is the "one Mediator between God and man." II. CHRIST 18 THE DooR BY WHIOH MEN MAY ENTER IN AND ENJOY THE GREATEST JILESSINGB PROVIDED BY GoD. L The door of the fold admits the sheep to Divine pasture; and they who accept Christ's mediation find at their disposal all the provision of God's spiritual bounty. '!'hat the soul as well as the body needs food, is plain. The knowledge of God, the favour of God, the gracious help of God,-without such provision the soul is starved. The way by which these blessings may be attained is that pointed out in the text. Christ is the Door, by which if any man enter in he shall find pasture. 2. The door of the fold admits the sheep to Divine secui·ity; and they who shelter themselves in Christ are safe from every harm and every foe. If the flock are left unprotected, they are exposed to dangers of two kinds; they are likely to wander am~ng the precipices of the dark mountains, and they are liable to be attacked by ravenmg wolves and other beasts of prey, or to become the spoil of robbers and marauders. Similarly, it should be impressed upon the minds, especially of the inexperienced, that this life is full of perils to all the children of men, that temptations and spiritual enemies abound. '!'here is no security out of Christ. But whilst those without the door are exposed to death, Christ secures to hie flock the blessing of life, and that in abundance. 3. The door of the fold admits the sheep to Divine society; and through Cb.rist his people partake the hallowed and happy fellowship of all who arc his. With- out are the enemies ; within are the friends. '!'ho fellowtihip of the flock is among tho cbuicetit privileo-es to which Christians are introduced ; but it is Christ himself who intrc,duces the~. Otly throuo-h the door can this society be reached and enjoyed. '!'hose who gather within the f~ld are together partakers of the love and care ot' th@ Shephe:rd. Theirs is the congenial companionship of God'11 blessed home. cu. x. 1-42.] TIIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN.