Jesus is the door

Jesus describes himself as the door of the fold into which a shepherd put his flock at night before they continued their travels on the following day. The fold might be a collection of stones build into walls and so creating a secure spot. There was one part that did not have stones, and that was the entrance. Often, the shepherd would lie there all night. 

Instinctively, the sheep would sense that the shepherd was acting as a guard. His presence would give them a sense of security. Jesus gives a different kind of security to his people – he will ensure that they are safe eternally and that enemies such as opposition, disease and death will not defeat his people permanently. One day, after the resurrection, they will be in a fold concerning which there will be no dangers.

We know too that a shepherd would provide the sheep with suitable grazing. Indeed, he might erect the fold beside where they were feeding so that they would not have to travel far afterwards. In everyday life, sheep could be in danger when they were feeding or chewing the cud afterwards. But the Good Shepherd providentially puts his sheep into a place where they can graze safely. Because Jesus will provide such good food, they will have a sense of satisfaction with what he provides. His aim is for them to focus on that, and not waste their time by feeding their souls on what will not help them.

It was also the case that at daybreak the shepherd would guide his sheep to wherever he wanted to take them. He did not have a consultation with them about it, although he would take into account the state that they were in. All the sheep would know, I assume by some form of instinct, that after their daily travels the shepherd again would find a safe location. In a real sense, that is what spiritual living is. Being led, being fed, and being kept by Jesus are what it is all about.