“I am the Door,” John 10:9.
Amongst the many metaphors that our blessed Saviour is expressed by in the holy scriptures, certainly this of the Door must carry emphasis and signification, for use and improvement; otherwise He that was wiser than Solomon, and spake as never man spake, (for excellency of matter and form) would never have likened himself to a Door. And therefore whatever may be imagined concerning a Door, in point of excellency and usefulness, in respect of appointment and necessity to the children of men, according to the scope of the text, that (even that) by way of eminency is the Son of God unto sinners. For the better understanding of which, we shall distinctly consider the subject and run the parallel as followeth.
| METAPHOR |
PARALLEL |
|---|---|
| A Door is of the same substance with some part of the house, to which it is purposed or intended as a useful part. | Jesus Christ, the spiritual Door, was of the same substance in respect of His human nature that men are, even like to them in all things, sin only excepted. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same,” Hebrews 2:14, therefore very often in scripture called a man. |
| A Door is fitted, by the power and wisdom of him who is concerned to make it, for an intended end. | Jesus Christ is fitted by the power, and wisdom of Him, who hath laid a most worthy platform and contrivance, and purposeth all things to His own most wise and admirable ends. “God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,” Galatians 4:4. “A body hast thou prepared me,” Hebrews 10:5. |
| A Door is set apart or assigned to a proper place and service, which other parts of a house are not fit for. | Jesus Christ is sanctified, or set apart by God the Father, to be a Mediator and Saviour, which no other besides Himself is fit for: 1Timothy 2:5. John 10:36, “whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world.” “For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4:12. |
| A Door is of necessity; who can be without it, that is of human race, whose dwelling is with men? | Jesus Christ is of such absolute necessity that none can be happy without Him, that have immortal souls to save, " For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. All they that hate me love death,” Proverbs 8:35-36. |
| A Door is as really the propriety of the owner of the house, as any other part or parts of the house, besides. | Jesus Christ is truly and really God’s Propriety, as the Church, and each particular believer, or member thereof; therefore in scripture is called “his own Son,” Romans 8:32. “And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's,” 1 Corinthians 3:23. |
| A Door lets into possession. If men hire or purchase, and take possession, the Door is the entrance thereto. | Jesus Christ has the honour and office of letting all true believers into the possession of that eternal inheritance purchased by His own blood for them; it was He that gave the poor thief entrance into heaven, Luke 23:43. |
| A Door is under the command of the master that owns it: it is he that shuts and opens it at his own pleasure. | Jesus Christ is under the command of God the Father, as man; and He receives in, and shuts out, according to His pleasure; acts even so, speaks even so as He “receives commandment from the Father.” |
| A Door is the place of legal entrance. No men are allowed by law to climb up to the windows or break down any part of the walls for entrance. | Jesus Christ is the legal Way of entrance, whether into the visible church, or into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever shall attempt to enter into either of these, otherwise than by Christ, will be looked upon as thieves and robbers. |
| A Door is the common passage for the family and strangers, for children and servants, for friends and enemies. | Jesus Christ is the common Passage to the mercy of God, to the privilege of children, to the fellowship of the sheep, and to eternal life, John 10:1; all are admitted through Him: “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me,” John 14:6. |
| A Door is of use to all, even to emperors and kings, as well as meaner men and cottagers. | Jesus Christ is useful to all, even to emperors and kings, to mean men and cottagers; “none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him,” Psalms 49:7. “Riches profit not in the day of wrath,” Proverbs 11:4. He is the only Saviour of all men that are saved; “neither is there salvation in any other,” Acts 4:12. |
| A Door is not only for the convenient entrance of men and women, whether of the family or not, but for the bringing in of other things, that the master chooses or requires to be brought in. | Jesus Christ is not only for the acceptance and entrance of men and women to God the Father but for the acceptance of their works and services, prayer and thanksgiving. Their service and performances are accepted in and through the Beloved, as well as their persons: “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up,” Acts 10:4. |
| By the Door admittance is given to view the inward excellencies of the house; who can see what there is within, if they are without the Door? | Jesus Christ gives an inspection into the excellencies of the Father, and the world to come: "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father,” John 6:46. It was He that “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” 2 Timothy 1:10. How can we see things that are within the vail, but by and through Christ? Who was it told us of a kingdom above, and an immortal crown, sitting upon thrones, and walking in white robes, but Christ? It is He that opens to the holy of holies, where the King sits in majestic glory. |
| A Door lets into the best parts and privileges of a house; into the dining room for meat, into the cellar for drink, into the wine cellar for wine, into the wardrobe for clothes, into the treasury for cash and into the closet for books. | Jesus Christ lets the souls of men into the best parts and privileges of heaven, of glory and blessedness itself. It is through him they come to the King's great feast, to the waters of life, “There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,” Psalms 46:4. It is through him they come into the King’s wine-cellar, to drink of the wines, the refreshing influences of the Spirit, the precious promises, the consolations of God, which are not small, 2 Peter 1:4. It is through him that men have an imputed righteousness for a wedding garment, the white robes, that render all fair, and without spot of wrinkle, or any such thing. It is through him, that men receive riches and treasures of grace, to help in time of need. It is through him that we come by that excellent book, which informs about all affairs, and gives a true and full account of that estate which belongs to us in the world to come. It is through him that all things are enjoyed, whether grace here, or glory hereafter. Life is through his name, remission of sins through him, eternal life through him, justification through him, riches of grace and glory through him, Acts 10:43, and Acts 13:38, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 2:7. |
| The Door is the privilege-place for the poor, where they often meet with good gifts and refreshments. | Jesus Christ is the Door where the poor have privilege to come without molestation or control; here they meet with relief; they never come or lose their labour. As he calls, so he gives when they come, and the best sort of alms too, the bread of life, the water of life; he gives help and healing, as well as bread and nourishing; the deaf receive their hearing, the dumb their speech and the blind their sight. It is through the Door God’s bountiful hand is stretched forth, to disperse abroad to them that are in necessity. “Blessed is the man…waiting at the posts of my doors,” Proverbs 8:34. |
COROLLARIES
- Here wisdom and goodness appear on Gods part, in making such a useful, convenient, and necessary Door.
- Here is great encouragement for all to seek, to find, especially the poor, and them that have a real mind to be happy.
- Here is the folly of them discovered that slight it, and the misery of all that miss it; they lose heaven, and all its privileges.
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