1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Did you ever wonder what a sheepfold is? It’s a simple corral or pen with one door, where livestock comes in and goes out. In the eastern countries, the walls were usually built from stacked stone, high enough to make it difficult for a thief to get inside and steal one of the sheep. In an area of predators, thorny bushes were put on top of the walls to keep lions or wolves out.
The door is a small opening, that could be easily blocked by the shepherd. In the evening time, the shepherd would herd his sheep into the sheepfold, count them to make sure they are all there, and lay his body across the opening, where he would sleep for the night.
Once inside, the sheep would huddle together through the night, both to keep warm and for safety. Thieves could not get over the wall, steal a sheep, and get it back over the wall without waking the shepherd. The same goes for a wild animal. And they would not dare come close to the gate, because they knew where the shepherd rested.
Basically, there was one way in and one way out of the sheepfold, and the shepherd was in that way.
And he brings in all the sheep and puts them in there, then he goes and lays down across the door. And the sheep, or the wolf can’t come in, or the sheep go out without crossing the shepherd. I thought, “Isn’t that wonderful.” See, He is the Door to the sheepfold. See? Nothing can come to the sheep unless the shepherd permits it. And if we got the Shepherd at the door, how secure and—and happy should we be. Satan can’t touch you unless the Shepherd permits it. And it’s all for the good whatever it has to be.
56-0129 - "The Supernatural"
We are the happiest sheep in the world because our Shepherd is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ! And, we sheep know His Voice!