The Shepherd Door

John 10:7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

You will notice in the verses above that it begins: "so Jesus again said..."  Jesus repeated Himself because He had told them this and they did not understand, so He goes into more detail.  The I AM picture He uses for Himself now is that of the caring shepherd who also serves as the doorway to the sheepfold.  No one gets in or out unless it's over His dead body.  He does that not to be mean, but because He truly loves His sheep.  The passage goes on to say that there are many false shepherds, imposters, hired hands quick to make a buck, who proclaim to have the keys to the sheepfold of heaven, but do not.  He as the Shepherd is actually the Son of the Owner, and He and His Father are on the same page concerning the sheep. They love them and have only good for them in their plan.  He loves us enough to lay down His life for us.