White Robed Monks of St. Benedict

Chapter 11 I am the door of the sheep (John 10:1-42)

Verse 7:
Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, "I am
the door of the sheep."

     The Eastern sheperds actually became the door of their sheep. They would risk their life for the sake of their sheep. The sheepfolds have no doors, they are usually made of stone and brush and there is a passageway for the sheep to come in and out.
     The sheperd has a staff that is 5 feet long and crooked on one end. He also has a rod about 18" long which hangs on his belt and is used to fight off animals. At night when the sheperd has all his sheep in the fold, he lays his staff across the top of the passageway and then the sheperd lays down in the doorway to sleep. The sheperd is now the door for the sheep. The sheperds would never trust a hireling to lie at the opening and act as the door, for a hireling would not give his life for the sheep. Also, the sheperd does not sleep while protecting the sheep at night.

 Psalms 121:3-4
He will not suffer thy foot to be
moved: He that keepeth thee will not
slumber.

Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall
neither slumber nor sleep.

      The Eastern sheperds give names to their sheep, as we do to dogs and horses. Every sheep recognizes his own name, and comes when called. We who are pastors in the church today should remind the people profusely to listen for the voice of the Chief Sheperd and not seek so much counsel from the arm of man. I believe the entire Gospel of John is directed at helping man to fellowship with God the heavenly Father, and His son Jesus Christ.

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