Jesus gave us several ways to identify him. Actually, there are nine “I AM” titles in Scripture, and this time of year, we are presented with two of them: I am the Good Shepherd, and I am the Gate.

To understand these titles, we must understand that if Jesus is calling himself the Good Shepherd, he’s comparing sheep to us. Some believe that sheep are cute but stupid and could easily nibble themselves lost — not helpful qualities. But sheep are also community minded. They live and travel together in a herd and know their master’s voice. Multiple herds of sheep can be together in one place, but when it’s time to move on, each sheep knows the voice of its Shepherd. That quality I would be happy to claim if compared to a sheep!

The other title…I am the Gate…also is connected to the sheep. Because sheep are prone to wandering, the shepherd builds a large, circular pen where the sheep can rest at night. They would be enclosed and safe, and the shepherd is blocking the one opening, where the sheep come in and out! He would sleep across that opening, using his body as “the Gate.” The sheep are protected from anything and everything. That’s how important the sheep are to the shepherd. That’s how important we are to Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I sleep quite well at night knowing I have a Shepherd who loves me and is my protection, twenty-four-seven.