Jesus used parables to speak about Himself and God's kingdom.  But, often, His hearers (including the disciples, Jesus’ trainee apostles) did not understand (John 12:16).  Speaking to the Pharisees about a truly motivated shepherd versus false shepherds had not provoked them to think about Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10:14).  So, Jesus told them plainly that He is the gate through which people come to the safety of God's kingdom.  He claimed to be the only way to be welcomed by Father God (John 14:6).

The metaphor of ‘The Gate’ refers to the entrance to a walled sheepfold.  Through this entrance, the shepherd would count his sheep in and out.  He would not allow any who were not his sheep to enter.  At night, the shepherd would lie across the entrance to keep the sheep safe and deny access to any intruder.  The shepherd would be the gate through which the sheep would be saved.  And so the shepherd was both the person who allowed only his sheep to enter, and kept them safe once they had come in.  
 
It is a wonderful truth that salvation comes to everyone who enters God’s kingdom through Jesus.  The disciples eventually understood and it became the apostolic message (Acts 4:12).  By contrast, the devoutly religious people who hated Jesus offered security if people could keep the rules: but they could not.  They were trapped in a cycle of spiritual defeat and locked into a system that could offer no hope – except that one day, the Messiah would come.  Jesus said that He is the Messiah (John 4:25-26) and all who come to Him are no longer trapped (Hebrews 2:14-15).  Jesus promised a new life, under His protection but with freedom (John 10:10).
 
How often have we read the Scripture without realising the Holy Spirit is pointing us to Jesus?  We may think that a particular passage would be good for someone else, but forget that God wants to speak to us personally about our relationship with Him.  Jesus was clear: however valuable may be the traditions and good activity of the church, we need to come through the gate into God's sheepfold ... and that gate is Jesus.  Let us recognise that Jesus is our only hope, and let us advertise Him as the only 'way in' to God's presence with confidence.