Christ in the Old Testament

John 10:9

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” (ESV‬‬)

Today’s Reading: John 10:1-18

Today let’s take a look at the number four. Here are some of the occurrences of the number four in Exodus:

• Four types/colors of material – finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn
• Four different curtains over the temple:
  • Outer covering of badger skins
  • Covering of ram’s skin dyed red
  • Curtain of goat’s hair
  • Curtain of fine linen
• The altars were foursquare – Brazen Altar and Altar of Incense
• Four horns on the Brazen Altar
• Four pillars upheld the Entrance Curtain
• Four principal spices in the Anointing Oil
• Four ingredients of sweet spices for the Incense

Where else do we see the number four in Scripture?

• Four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
• Four living creatures in Revelation – Lion, Ox, Man and Eagle
• Four rivers in the Garden of Eden – Pishon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates
• God made the world on the fourth day
• The four winds referenced in Matthew 24:31
• Lazarus was in the tomb four days
• The four corners of the earth referenced in Acts 10:11
• The twelve tribes of Israel (sons of Jacob) came from four mothers

We also see four in Creation:

• Four directions – north, south, east and west
• Four seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter
• Four phases of the moon – first quarter, new moon, last quarter and full moon
• Four divisions of the day – morning, noon, evening and night

The number four represents stability, foundation, order and balance in the Scriptures. The recurrence of the number four in Scripture often points to themes of universality and completeness. It serves as a reminder of God’s orderly design in Creation and His comprehensive plan for redemption. The number four is a symbol of the divine order and the completeness of God’s work in the world.

But beyond that, I believe the number four points to Jesus. Imagine that! Unlike the English language, each letter of the Hebrew alphabet has its own individual meaning. The “4th” letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter dalet. The meaning of the letter dalet is “door” or “doorway.“

Interestingly enough, Jesus calls himself the door. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7, ESV). We are the sheep and Jesus is the door. Seems like a strange analogy! In fact, the people he was telling this parable to “did not understand what he was saying to them” (John 10:6, ESV). So he explained it for them.

In short, we the sheep are pinned up wanting to go out to pasture to graze. The analogy is that we are on earth seeking to enter eternity to rest with God. Jesus is the door that the sheep must pass through to go to the pasture. And likewise, Jesus is the door to eternity that we must pass through and “whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9, NIV).

So the number four represents stability, a firm foundation and completeness. It also represents the door. And The Door is Jesus.

Today’s Prayer: Thank you Jesus for being willing to lay down your life for your sheep as the Good Shepherd. Thank you for giving me life to the full!