Using a tiled gallery in WordPress will not allow me to add alt text for people who use screen readers, or I do not know how to add it, so the images above are the lion door of Cologne Cathedral, the Betts Lane kissing gate at Nazing, Essex, a door with two iron bars and padlocks and an open refrigerator door. All the images used are copyright free from the internet.

40 Names of Jesus in 40 days of Lent — Day 35

Monday in Holy Week 2022

⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:9-10 ESVUK

The post I wrote when looking at the ‘I am’ sayings of Jesus has already been included in this series when I looked at The Good Shepherd. This was to leave it clear for me to look at Jesus being the door or gate to the sheepfold in the context of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on the nearest Lent fast day to Palm Sunday.

There is a contrast in the events of Holy Week between the teaching of Jesus and the teaching of the religious authorities. Jesus the door is open to all. Jesus said come to me all who are burdened. Yea all. John said of Jesus, “to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” and Jesus said, “whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 1:12. 6:37). Access to Jesus is open to all, no one is turned away.

In contrast, the religious authorities of Jesus’ time were exclusive. Entrance to God, they thought, was through them. If you are not on the list you’ll not get in. Jesus did not discriminate, but the religious authorities did.

Is your church like Jesus or is it like that of the temple authorities, is it for all people or only for people like us? Are you open to all people of all colours and including trans and LGB people or do you prefer to be a church of the monoculture, everyone the same?

As a door, Jesus is not like the barred door to keep people out, or the fridge door where you are glad it is there but only go there for a treat. Neither is he the kissing gate, fine for able bodied people but inaccessible to wheelchair users. Jesus is the door with the knocker and will answer to anyone who comes to him.