Why Did Jesus Call Himself the Gate? Unlocking the Secret of Salvation

Dezheng Yu October 11, 2025

51 3 minutes read

A shepherd standing as a gatekeeper at the entrance of a sheep pen, symbolizing Jesus as our protector and the way to salvation. — The gate is open, and the Shepherd is waiting for you.

🚪 The Living Barrier: When the Shepherd Becomes the Shield ✨

Have you ever been in a place where you felt totally unsafe—exposed, vulnerable, and watching the shadows for danger?

In the ancient world, sheep felt this every night. Predators lurked in the wilderness, waiting for a gap in the wall.

In John 10, Jesus uses an illustration that every listener understood, but which shocks us today. He didn’t just say He was the Shepherd; He said:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.” —John 10:7 (KJV)

Why did Jesus call Himself the Gate?

It wasn’t about carpentry. It was about security. In the rugged fields of Judea, the sheep pens had no wooden doors. The Shepherd was the door. He slept in the opening.

By taking this title, Jesus was declaring that He is the only thing standing between you and the wolf—and the only way into the Father’s house.

Part I: The Anatomy of the Sheepfold 🧱

The Village Pen vs. The Wilderness Fold 🐑

To understand this, we have to look at shepherding culture.

The Village Pen: A large communal enclosure where multiple flocks stayed. This pen had a hired Gatekeeper (John 10:3) who guarded a literal strong gate.
The Wilderness Fold: A makeshift circle of stones used when the flock was out in the hills.

The Wilderness Fold had a gap in the wall for entry. It had no wooden door, no lock, and no hinges. At night, the Shepherd would wrap himself in his cloak and lie down across the gap.

The Shepherd became the Gate.

Nothing could go in or out without crossing over his body.

If a wolf wanted the sheep, it had to kill the Shepherd first.
If a sheep wanted to wander, it had to trip over the Shepherd.

This is the Gospel. Jesus is the Living Door. He put His body between us and death.

Part II: The Exclusivity of the Entrance 🚫

“By Me If Any Man Enter In” ☝️

We live in a world that hates exclusivity. We want many roads to God. But Jesus drew a hard line in the sand:

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” —John 10:9 (KJV)

He didn’t say, “I am one of the doors.” He said, “I am THE door.”

The Thief (v. 10): Anyone who tries to climb over the wall (works, philosophy, other religions) is a “thief and a robber.” They are bypassing the Shepherd.
The Door: There is only one way to be safe, and it requires walking through Christ.

For more on Jesus’ bold claims of divinity and exclusivity, read 5 Bold Biblical Claims That Prove Jesus Is Truly God.

Part III: 3 Common Misconceptions About the Gate 💡

Misconception 1: Jesus is the Gatekeeper.

Correction: In John 10:3, Jesus mentions a “porter” (gatekeeper) who opens the door for the Shepherd. Many theologians view the Gatekeeper as the Holy Spirit or God the Father who grants access to the Son. Jesus identifies Himself specifically as the Door (v. 7) and the Shepherd (v. 11).

Misconception 2: The Gate is a trap.

Correction: We often think of walls as prisons. But Jesus says those who enter “shall go in and out and find pasture.” The Gate isn’t there to trap you; it’s there to facilitate freedom. It is the portal to “abundant life” (John 10:10).

Misconception 3: The Gate is hard to open.

Correction: The Gate isn’t locked. It is a Person. Salvation isn’t a puzzle to solve; it is a relationship to enter. You simply have to step through.

For more on the peace found inside the fold, read Finding Peace in God’s Presence: John 14:27.