By: Erin M Diericx

A sermon given on John 10:1-18.

There is something powerful about someone says your name. And each person says your name differently. Our parents give us our names hoping it will somehow define us for greatness. During our childhood, we learn the different ways our parents say our names, and we can tell if we are in trouble or not. Usually if our first and middle names were said together, we knew we were in trouble and we better hurry home. Over time we gain nicknames, which signify a relationship where a bond has been formed and nurtured. 

In college, I gained the nickname, E, because my friend could only say her vowels. Depending on how she said E, I could tell if she needed help immediately or if she just wanted to chat. When I have not seen a friend in awhile, I love hearing them greet me with my name in a way that only they can say it.

When Jesus calls himself the gate (or door which is more accurate to the Greek), he is offering us the security and love of God the Father. As a door, Jesus gives us protection from the thief and bandit who threatens to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10) everything the Triune God stands to protect. The metaphor of Jesus as door symoolizes the security and protection he gives to us for accepting the gift of forgiveness.

The painting, The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, has a powerful message with layers of metaphors. The man in a white robe with an elegant cloak serves as the focus point of the painting. The white robe symbolize Jesus’s purity from being apart of the Trinity. The golden halo around his head also signifies his divinity and relationship with God the Father. 

Jesus has the crown of thorns on his head indicating through his crucifixion allows you entrance into the Kingdom of God. Through Jesus’s crucifixion, death, and resurrection, you are able to be in a relationship with the Triune God, to share his light in the world, and to enter heaven. His right arm is raised as if he is opening a door, though it appears to have no door knob to open it with. In Revelations 3:20, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me” (NRSV). The doorknob is Jesus Christ himself. He is our way, our key to unlock the door to the Kingdom of God. He is our way to know and to be in a relationship with God the Father.

If you allow Jesus Christ into your heart, then God can enter our lives and use us to do his will in the world. The lantern in his left hand further signifies Jesus as the light of the world. In John 8:12, Jesus calls himself the light of the world: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (NRSV). Since the painting is set at night, it signifies as the light of the world Jesus is able to break through the darkness and shine God’s light in order to gather the lost, the disbarred, the forgotten, and others to be children of God—this includes you. With Jesus in your heart, you never have to walk in the darkness, because we have the light within us. Therefore, we take the light, Jesus Christ, into the world with us to share with others.

Jesus calls himself the shepherd and his disciples sheep. As the shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep by name (John 10:3). When a sheep is trouble, the shepherd goes out looking for him/her. Jesus looks for us when we are lost in the darkness; he calls out our names (Erin, Andrew, Faith, Amanda, Beth, Kara, Julie, Stacy, Katie, Margaret, Mary, Dorothy, Christina, Lauren, Laura, Liz, Brian, Keith, David, Bob, Ashley, Nathan, Ryan, __ …), so we can follow his voice back to the fold. 

My three pups love to explore in the backyard. When they hear their names being yelled, the pups come running in, because they know the door is open and there is something going on, like dinner. When their names are said sharply, the pups know they are in trouble and come with their heads bowed. No matter how their names are said the pups know they are safe and loved.

This is what Jesus does for us. Jesus comes looking for us individually and calls out our name when we stray from him. Jesus went so far that he suffered death on the cross, so we could open the door to be in a relationship with God the Father. Every time we stray from the Triune God, Jesus comes after us and reminds us of his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. When we feel like we have failed God and try to hide from his sight, Jesus comes to find us and takes away our guilt because God the Father wants to be in a relationship with us. Even if you have stole, killed, lied, or [whatever “it” is], God wants to be in a relationship with you. All you have to do is repent and let go of your guilt. There is nothing that can separate you from God the Father as long as you repent and renew your relationship with him.

As the shepherd, Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows our insecurities, doubts, precious moments, etc. On our bad, horrible, no good days, Jesus is there to comfort us with a hug and his abundant love. Jesus calls us by name when we stray away from his love. The Triune God never wants to let us go. When we wonder off into the wilderness, Jesus comes looking for us and brings us back into the fold. Jesus leads us to God’s abundant love and to enjoy the security God gives to us. Jesus gathers us in to be children of God.