The Gate for the Sheep

Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is a shepherd of the sheep. The gate keeper opens it for him, and the sheep hears his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly."

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Lord Jesus, yes, you are the gate. Your sheep hear your voice and follow you. We, your sheep, realize that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and we follow you because we love you. We do not follow the voices of liars, thieves, and robbers because they lead us on paths of destruction. Even when we stray you come after us until we are found and brought back to the fold. Amen.