The Sheep Gate

I read something that caught my attention in Nehemiah the other day. This book of the Bible was written approximately 445 B.C. when the Jews were returning from Babylonian exile. The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and though some of the Jews had returned weren't being rebuilt. Nehemiah, who was the Persian king's cup bearer, received permission and supplies from the king to go and rebuild the wall. When Nehemiah arrived he had to encourage the people to begin this project, reminding them that Jerusalem was the Lord's city and they were His people. It was their right and responsibility.

The part that caught my interest though was Nehemiah 3:1. “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it.” This was the first section of wall mentioned being built for the protection of Jerusalem. Why, of all places, the Sheep Gate? I saw a note in my Bible that said this was the entrance for the sheep to be sacrificed to God, but that still didn't answer as to why this section was mentioned, and most likely built, first.

Then I thought of another Scripture. John 10:1-18 tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but it was verse 7 that stood out in my mind, “So Jesus said again, 'I assure you: I am the door of the sheep.'” That was it! The first, most important, and only way into God's Holy City is through Jesus Christ, our sheep gate. That is why it was built by the high priest. Because our great High Priest was going to built it for us. That is before anything else. That is most important.

Remember that as you go throughout your day. Without our Sheep Gate, we would be lost and devoured by the wolves. Everything else about Christianity is good, but without the sacrifice of Jesus, we are still outside the gate, no matter what land we are in or who we were born as; what church we go to or who our family is.