John 10

Jesus, the Good Shepherd

1 “I can guarantee this truth: The person who doesn’t enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in somewhere else is a thief or a robber.2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out of the pen.4 After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.5 They won’t follow a stranger. Instead, they will run away from a stranger because they don’t recognize his voice.”

6 Jesus used this illustration as he talked to the people, but they didn’t understand what he meant.
7 Jesus emphasized, “I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate for the sheep.8 All who came before I did were thieves or robbers. However, the sheep didn’t respond to them.9 I am the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and find food.

10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.12 A hired hand isn’t a shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and quickly runs away. So the wolf drags the sheep away and scatters the flock.

13 The hired hand is concerned about what he’s going to get paid and not about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me.t My sheep know me as I know the Father.15 So I give my life for my sheep.16 I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd.17 The Father loves me because I give my life in order to take it back again.

18 No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do.”
19 The Jews were divided because of what Jesus said.20 Many of them said, “He’s possessed by a demon! He’s crazy! Why do you listen to him?”

21 Others said, “No one talks like this if he’s possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?”

The Jews Reject Jesus

22 The Festival of the Dedication of the Temple took place in Jerusalem during the winter.

23 Jesus was walking on Solomon’s porch in the temple courtyard.
24 The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”25 Jesus answered them, “I’ve told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf.26 However, you don’t believe because you’re not my sheep.27 My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me,28 and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me.29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father.

30 The Father and I are one.”
31 The Jews had again brought some rocks to stone Jesus to death.

32 Jesus replied to them, “I’ve shown you many good things that come from the Father. For which of these good things do you want to stone me to death?”
33 The Jews answered Jesus, “We’re going to stone you to death, not for any good things you’ve done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you’re only a man.”34 Jesus said to them, “Don’t your Scriptures say, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’?35 The Scriptures cannot be discredited. So if God calls people gods (and they are the people to whom he gave the Scriptures),36 why do you say that I’m dishonoring God because I said, ‘I’m the Son of God’? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world.37 If I’m not doing the things my Father does, don’t believe me.

38 But if I’m doing those things and you refuse to believe me, then at least believe the things that I’m doing. Then you will know and recognize that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father.”
39 The Jews tried to arrest Jesus again, but he got away from them.

40 He went back across the Jordan River and stayed in the place where John first baptized people.
41 Many people went to Jesus. They said, “John didn’t perform any miracles, but everything John said about this man is true.”

42 Many people there 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.