21/03/2026
Message: The Gate
Sculptural References: John 10:1-2,8-10
The gate: Christ is the only gate which gives us access into the beauty and wealth of the Kingdom of heaven. He is One through whom we are granted not only the right, but also a portion to share in the inheritance of the saints. He is the One in whose authority that those of us who have a burden for ministry operate from.
The religious leaders "climbed up by some other way" over the people because they benefited from the sacrifices brought in as sin offerings. But those who offered those sacrifices were left unredeemed, but only with an obligation to come again the next year for the same reason, over and over again. (In essence the priests received something from the people, but could not provide them with anything in return.)
Yes, the walk of salvation is a narrow path, but even the narrowness of this path is easily located because it has Christ as the Gate. Which also makes it to be of a lighter load, because to find the pasture, one has to first enter in through the Gate, be saved; and then in that process false identity falls off of you and you begin to find your true self in Him.
It mustn't be strenuous to enter in through this Gate: Walking in through the Gate that is Christ is free, and the burden is inside (meaning it is not about entry but of service.) The gate that will cost you something to enter into the Kingdom of heaven, it is not advised to heed its advances. These many gates out there they promise the benefits and glories of heaven, a Kingdom that they themselves have no access into. But all they do is take from you without anything of themselves to offer back in return.
Walking in through the Gate that is Christ is free (salvation, v. 9b), and once one has entered through it, he finds fulfilment (life abundantly, v. 10b), a sense of belonging and a burden to serve the Will of God for their life (pasture/individual purpose, v. 9c).
~ Pastor A.N. Mbeje