Summer Sermon Series: Fences and Gates

John 10

Gates and Fences

           

As we continue our journey of what it means to be a part of God’s New Creation, we continue with the metaphor of a seedling sprouting roots, growing in rich fertile soil, plenty of sunshine and receiving living water as it grows to produce fruit.  Now, if you have tried to grow a simple container garden or a larger garden or even flowers, you know in this part of NJ that between the rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, and deer, the fruit of our labor is in high demand of often the wildlife beats us to it.  So, the serious gardener puts up a fence and creates some sort of gate in which to enter the garden. 

            In gardening, we want to protect our new creation, we want to ensure that it is allowed to grow and produce the tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and green beans for our enjoyment, not for an afternoon snack for the neighborhood rabbits.  I did see a sign in someone’s flower bed that said:  Bambi’s salad.  I’m pretty sure in my yard, it is the rabbits that have done the most damage to my flowers, but one year, we had a wood chuck that ate both of our Halloween pumpkins before we even got them carved. 

            Some things we can put a fence around, some things we don’t.   Why have Halloween pumpkins out if I put a fence around them?  Although, I have learned that by putting my flowers up high in an elevated flower display on my front deck has kept the rabbits out. 

            Fences, they are all around us.  Whether they are used to protect our gardens, to be a barrier around a swimming pool, or if they are used to mark the boundaries of our property.  They are everywhere.  As are gates or doors.  Often times these gates or doors are locked or have a safety system, such as on a baby gate, to keep children safe.  Gates near swimming pools are often difficult to open so young children cannot wander in.  Fences and gates are often good things. 

            Throughout history, especially Biblical history, gates have had more meaning than just the way in and out of a fenced in area.  The town or city gate was the place where people met to discuss important items.  It could be a place of hospitality as travelers sought to enter into the town, would the town leaders allow them in or send them away?  Did they come in peace or with bad intentions? 

            I just started to read the book:  I am Malala, about a young girl from Pakastan that is shot by the Taliban for attending school.  As it turns out, Malala’s father owns and runs the school created just for girls.  As he developed the school it grew from one school into several more.  The high school had classes for both boys and girls and Malala’s father is questioned about the fact that he allows both boys and girls to enter the school through the same gate. 

            Gates hold power, gates mark status, gates are the entryway into cities, towns, gardens, pools, and schools.  Fences protect and keep people and animals in or out, gates are the way to enter or exit.  It seems that gates are pretty universal, I googled famous gates and in India there is one called The Gateway of India, in France there is the Arc de Triomphe, the arch of Titus, and on and on.  We have them scattered around our own communities as well.  Over in Mountain lakes there are two pillars marking in the entrance into the community, and in Montreat, NC there are these arches that people sing a traditional song as they drive through to enter into this community. 

            So, when Jesus says, I am the gate, his statement has a lot of meaning.  He is not just a way to enter into God’s garden, but his statement has meaning related to the importance of gates in his culture and his specific place in history.  To enter through the gate, there is often conversation, gathering of people together, deals made, commodities traded, families reunited.  People learn from each other at the gate, people negotiate at the gate, people might have to make some form of pledge of allegiance at the gate. 

            But Jesus is not a locked gate, he is not a secret gate, he is not a gate only available for boys at the school to enter through, this gate is there for all to enter through.  At this gate there is an amazing gift of hospitality, a welcoming from God like no other people had experienced before.  A God that says all are welcome, whether you are rich or poor, educated or not, male or female, slave or free.  This is the place to enter, come through the gate and be a part of God’s amazing garden. 

            Over the last two thousand years, we people have done our best to put locks on that gate.  We have tried to convince ourselves and others that not all are really welcome.  We have created false fences and false gates pushing others away.  Come to the garden if you are like us.  Come to the garden if you believe exactly this.  We have put up locked gates around the sacraments of communion and baptism.  Thankfully we are reformed and always reforming.  We have found ways to name those human locks on God’s love and are seeking to remove them.  God cannot be locked, God will continue to find ways to open the gate of God’s love so that all may find a way to learn compassion, and care for each other, and so that we may bear fruit fully for God’s purpose. 

Jesus proclaims:  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go 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.  We enter the gate not to be brainwashed, not to feel guilty, not to push others away.  We enter the gate so that we may live these lives more fully and abundantly as we embrace a way of life that reflects God’s calling for us. 

From the internet, I found the following poem about God's garden:  

Plant three rows of peas:
Peace of mind Peace of heart Peace of soul

Plant four rows of squash:
Squash gossip  Squash indifference  Squash grumbling  Squash selfishness

Plant four rows of lettuce:
Lettuce be faithful  Lettuce be kind  Lettuce be obedient  Lettuce really love one another

No garden should be without turnips:
Turnip for meetings  Turnip for service   Turnip to help one another

Water freely with patience and cultivate love

There is much fruit for your garden  Because you reap what you sow.

To conclude our garden
We must have thyme:  Thyme for God  Thyme for study  Thyme for prayer
Thyme for each other  Thyme for friends