Many of you are no doubt aware that ancient cities were often more like fortresses than like our modern cities. The perimeters consisted of one or more massive stone walls with multiple gates. In times of war, enemy forces often concentrated their attacks on these openings, typically the weakest part of the city wall, and the gates were usually constructed in such a way that they were flanked by, or actually part of, one or more defensive guard towers. These gates typically had names that signified something about either their position or their purpose.
The gates were important to the city for many reasons. For one thing, they were the only avenues for people and animals to enter or exit the city. They also provided the city with access to food, merchandise, and sometimes even to water. Without gates the city would have been a virtual prison and a death trap.
Ancient Jerusalem was fortified in this way. The city has had numerous gates that have been called by a variety of names throughout history. Some of these gates were destroyed in various campaigns and never rebuilt, and some were later sealed off; but you can still walk through some of them, even today.
What can we learn from a study that looks at the gates of Jerusalem?
Each gate of Jerusalem speaks of different experiences in our Christian life that we need to pass through. Their specific order and position gives us insight into the journey that each of God’s children must walk.
The upcoming studies will be focusing on each of the gates set up by Nehemiah and his crew during the rebuilding of Jerusalem circa 466 B.C. [1], and on the important lessons God has to teach us through each one. Before getting into the actual gates however, let’s take a moment and look at what Jesus Himself taught about the significance of gates:
“Enter through the NARROW GATE. For WIDE is the GATE and broad is the road that leads to DESTRUCTION, and many enter through it. But SMALL is the GATE and narrow the road that leads to LIFE, and only a few find it.” (Matt 7:13-14 NIV, Emphasis added).
In this famous quote from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is making reference to the ancient custom of walled cities. The “Life” is the Kingdom of God, and just like ancient cities had walls for protection, God’s Kingdom is our protection from the world. And just like anyone who wanted to enter or leave the ancient walled cities had to do so by passing through a gate, there is only one way into the Kingdome of God: Through the gate!
But Jesus is also introducing another very important Truth here: In life, there are only two paths that we may choose to walk. One leads to destruction, the other to life!
Interestingly, the gate to the first path, the one that leads to “destruction”, is described as being “wide” and easy to find, but the gate to the second path, the path that leads to “life” is “small”, and “only a few find it”.
Just what is this “gate”?
We find the answer in the book of John: “I tell you the truth, I AM THE GATE for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I AM THE GATE; whoever enters THROUGH ME will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” (John 10:7-10)
Friends, Jesus Himself, is the “small” gate that “only a few find”! The gate represents Jesus’ gift for us on the cross!
“I tell you the truth, THE MAN WHO DOES NOT ENTER THE SHEEP PEN BY THE GATE, but climbs in by some other way, IS A THIEF AND A ROBBER.” (John 10:1 NIV Emphasis added)
There is only one way to obtain the abundant life found only in the Kingdom of God: We have to pass through Jesus! We have to accept His gift of Salvation. His gift of the cross! Those who try other ways are called “thieves” and “robbers!”
But just how would one try to climb in any other way? Paul gives us the answer: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST.” (Eph 2:8-9, Emphasis added)
Friends, when we try to bypass Jesus’ gift of Salvation; when we try to enter into the Kingdom of God by our own works and not by full and total submission to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it is like we are boasting, like we are saying, “Look! I’m good enough! I don’t need Jesus!” This is robbing Jesus of His rightful place! This is taking the glory of Jesus’ gift for us on the cross from Him, and putting it on ourselves! This is thievery and robbery!
Enough to ponder, but do ponder this: The “small gate”, Jesus’ gift of Salvation, is the ONLY way to enter into the Kingdom of God, to enter into life eternal. Those who try to earn their salvation by anything that they do are considered to be “thieves” and “robbers”, because they are taking the glory of Jesus’ precious gift on the cross and putting it upon themselves!
Please see “The Gates of Jerusalem”, Part 2 for a the history surrounding the specific gates to be addressed in the upcoming studies of this series.
God bless each of you abundantly!
Sue Ramsey & Lyn Chaffart Volunteers, Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org
[1] Adam Clark’s Commentary
(To access the entire “Gates in the Bible” mini-series, please click here.)
Many of you are no doubt aware that ancient cities were often more like fortresses than like our modern cities. The perimeters consisted of one or more massive stone walls with multiple gates. In times of war, enemy forces often concentrated their attacks on these openings, typically the weakest part of the city wall, and the gates were usually constructed in such a way that they were flanked by, or actually part of, one or more defensive guard towers. These gates typically had names that signified something about either their position or their purpose.