John 10

The Shepherd and His Sheep

1 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the person who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The one who guards the door opens it for him. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he brings all his sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger. They will run away from him because they don’t know his voice.”

6 Jesus told the people this story, but they did not understand what it meant.

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

7 So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All the people who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door, and the person who enters through me will be saved and will be able to come in and go out and find pasture.

10 A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 The worker who is paid to keep the sheep is different from the shepherd who owns them. When the worker sees a wolf coming, he runs away and leaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them.

13 The man runs away because he is only a paid worker and does not really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I give my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not in this flock, and I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The Father loves me because I give my life so that I can take it back again.

18 No one takes it away from me; I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”
19 Again the leaders did not agree with each other because of these words of Jesus.

20 Many of them said, “A demon has come into him and made him crazy. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “A man who is crazy with a demon does not say things like this. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus Is Rejected

22 The time came for the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,23 and Jesus was walking in the Temple in Solomon’s Porch.

24 Some people gathered around him and said, “How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered, “I told you already, but you did not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name show who I am. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand. 29 My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father’s hand.

30 The Father and I are one.”
31 Again some of the people picked up stones to kill Jesus.

32 But he said to them, “I have done many good works from the Father. Which of these good works are you killing me for?”

33 They answered, “We are not killing you because of any good work you did, but because you speak against God. You are only a human, but you say you are the same as God!”
34 Jesus answered, “It is written in your law that God said, ‘I said, you are gods.’ 35 This Scripture called those people gods who received God’s message, and Scripture is always true. 36 So why do you say that I speak against God because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? I am the one God chose and sent into the world. 37 If I don’t do what my Father does, then don’t believe me.

38 But if I do what my Father does, even though you don’t believe in me, believe what I do. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

39 They tried to take Jesus again, but he escaped from them.
40 Then he went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had first baptized. Jesus stayed there,41 and many people came to him and said, “John never did a miracle, but everything John said about this man is true.”42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

John 10

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.7 Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.10 The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.12 He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them:13 he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.17 Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.18 No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.19 There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words.20 And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?21 Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?22 And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem:23 it was winter; and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch.24 The Jews therefore came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me.26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28 and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.29 My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.30 I and the Father are one.31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him.32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33 The Jews answered him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken),36 say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.38 But if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.39 They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand.40 And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there be abode.41 And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true.42 And many believed on him there.