Guest Editorial February 29, 2016 Issue

An open door

Ann Kenrick

Christ Jesus, the great teacher and shepherd of his newly formed band of disciples, often used pastoral terms to instruct them. For instance, he said: “I am the door of the sheep.… 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 10:7, 9).

What exactly did he mean when he said, “By me” shall men “enter in” and “be saved”? Surely he was referring to the Christ, Truth, he represented and expressed. This eternal Christ would lead his followers in all ages to a fuller realization of life in God, with its abundance of good, strength, and spiritual illumination, which can be obtained in no other way than by faithfully obeying and demonstrating Christ.

The other day, I was pondering Jesus’ profound statement, and I found an enlightening passage about it in The Interpreter’s Bible. The Bible scholar wrote: “It is through Christ one enters into and enjoys the peace which passes all understanding .… It is through Christ one gains the joy of the Lord that is our strength. It is through Christ that one attains to life that is life indeed” (Vol. 8, p. 624, 1952).

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