A Series on the “I Am” statements of Jesus
(Click
on the link below to read the verses.)
John 9:35-10:10
[Moses
encountered God at the burning bush where the Lord gave His name as “I Am”. Jesus used that same name for
himself, thus claiming to BE God. In this series, we’re looking at the “I Am” statements of Jesus to learn about
him and about God.]
The Gatekeeper… Every office has on! If they’re good, you’ll never talk to the person you were calling. And if they’re really good, they’ll do it without offending you. On the other hand, there are bad gatekeepers. Like when you call your cable TV company or social security office. Don’t even get me started.
Speaking of bad
gatekeepers… the Pharisees were the religious gatekeepers of their day.
According to an article by Jack Zavada on Learn Religions.com, “the Pharisees
started and controlled the synagogues”. This seems to be confirmed in the story
about the man born blind that was healed by Jesus.
Following the
healing, a full investigation was launched by the Pharisees. The healing was
done on the Sabbath, which for the legalistically pious Pharisees, was a huge
no-no. In an attempt to discredit and/or arrest Jesus, they interviewed the man
born blind as well as his parents.
The Pharisees had previously
made it known that anyone who said that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out
of the synagogue. So, the parents had nothing to say other than he was their son
and that he was born blind. They claimed no knowledge of how he was healed.
As the religious
gatekeepers, the Pharisees enjoyed a position of power. Jesus threatened that
power. He threatened their position of gatekeeper. In fact, he claimed to be
the gatekeeper.
7 Therefore
Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the
sheep. 8 All who have come before me are
thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I
am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in
and go out, and find pasture. NIV
During the
investigation, the man born blind was excommunicated. Following this, Jesus had
this conversation with him.
35 Jesus
heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to
him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 He
answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 And
Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is
talking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!”
And he worshiped Him. NKJV
Modern day
gatekeepers can be very frustrating! But only because they keep us from what we
want; from what we think we need. However, Jesus holds the gate wide open for
his sheep… for us. Just like he invited the man born blind to a new life, he
invites us to believe.
10 The
thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV
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