牧人必须时刻看守羊群,免于遭到猛兽袭击。晚上,他们经常把羊群赶到一起,把它们关在临时搭建的羊圈里。如果一个地方有不止一个牧羊人,那么羊圈里就会有不止一群羊。牧羊人自己就是通往羊群的门。羊能认出牧羊人的声音。所以到了早晨,当羊群听到自己牧人的呼唤,就会跟着他走。
正是在这种情况下,耶稣说祂是羊的门。这个比喻暗示了三个真理。首先,耶稣是救恩之门:“凡从我进来的,必然得救。”除了耶稣,别无救恩。祂是通往神的路,是通往救恩之门。没有人能通过他们的功劳,甚至是他们的宗教信仰来得着神。唯有信基督才能入门!
第二,耶稣是自由之门:“(他们)可以出、可以入,……”生活中有许多门和路是通向被掳和奴役的。它们又宽又大,但却导向危险和苦难。然而,耶稣是通向自由的门。
第三,耶稣是供应之门:“(他们)……可以找到草场。”基督提供了我们生存所需要的一切,使我们丰盛兴旺。祂来是要叫我们“得生命,并且得的更丰盛”。
耶稣我主,感谢你赐给我们丰盛、整全的生命。人生的其他道路都通向奴役和死亡。唯有你信实地带领和引导我们进入丰盛生命。我们赞美你的名!阿们。
约翰福音 10:1-10
1“我实实在在地告诉你们:人进羊圈,不从门进去,倒从别处爬进去,那人就是贼,就是强盗。
2从门进去的,才是羊的牧人。
3看门的就给他开门,羊也听他的声音。他按著名叫自己的羊,把羊领出来。
4既放出自己的羊来,就在前头走,羊也跟着他,因为认得他的声音。
5羊不跟着生人,因为不认得他的声音,必要逃跑。”
6耶稣将这比喻告诉他们,但他们不明白所说的是什么意思。
7所以,耶稣又对他们说:“我实实在在地告诉你们:我就是羊的门。
8凡在我以先来的都是贼,是强盗,羊却不听他们。
9我就是门,凡从我进来的,必然得救,并且出入得草吃。
10盗贼来,无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏;我来了,是要叫羊得生命,并且得的更丰盛。
"I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture." - John 10:9
Shepherds had to keep watch over their flocks constantly so that predators would not attack. At night they often rounded up their sheep and kept them in improvised sheepfolds. And if more than one shepherd was in the area, there would be more than one flock in the fold. The shepherds themselves were the gateway to the sheep. And the sheep knew their shepherd's voice. So in the morning when they heard their shepherd call, the sheep followed.
It is in this context that Jesus says he is the gate for the sheep. This metaphor suggests three truths. First, Jesus is the door to salvation: "Whoever enters through me will be saved." There is no salvation outside of Jesus. He is the way to God, the door of salvation. No one can reach God by their works or even by their religiosity. Christ alone is the door!
Second, Jesus is the door to freedom: "They will come in and go out. . . ." There are many doorways and roadways in life that lead to captivity and slavery. They are wide and spacious, but they lead to danger and misery. Jesus, however, is the door to freedom.
Third, Jesus is the door to provision: "They will . . . find pasture." Christ provides everything we need in order to flourish in abundance. He came so that we "may have life, and have it to the full"!
Lord and Savior, thank you for the full, abundant life you give. All other pathways in life lead to slavery and death. Only you lead and guide us faithfully. We praise your name! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳