John 10

The Shepherd and the Flock

1 "What I'm about to tell you is true. What if someone does not enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in another way? That person is a thief and a robber.2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him. The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 When he has brought all of his own sheep out, he goes on ahead of them. His sheep follow him because they know his voice.5 But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him. They don't recognize a stranger's voice."
6 Jesus used this story. But the Jews who were there didn't understand what he was telling them.
7 So Jesus said again, "What I'm about to tell you is true. I am like a gate for the sheep.8 All those who ever came before me were thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them.9 I'm like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out. And he will find plenty of food.10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they can have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.12 The hired man is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when the hired man sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.13 The man runs away because he is a hired man. He does not care about the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.15 They know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give my life for the sheep.
16 "I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 "The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will take it back again.18 No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father."
19 After Jesus spoke these words, the Jews again could not agree with each other.20 Many of them said, "He is controlled by a demon. He has gone crazy! Why should we listen to him?"
21 But others said, "A person controlled by a demon does not say things like this. Can a demon open the eyes of someone who is blind?"

The Jews Do Not Believe

22 Then came the Feast of Hanukkah at Jerusalem. It was winter.23 Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Porch.24 The Jews gathered around him. They said, "How long will you keep us waiting? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you. But you do not believe. The kinds of things I do in my Father's name speak for me.26 But you do not 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. No one can steal them out of my hand.29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than anyone. No one can steal them out of my Father's hand.30 I and the Father are one."
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to kill him.
32 But Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many miracles from the Father. Which one of these are you throwing stones at me for?"
33 "We are not throwing stones at you for any of these," replied the Jews. "We are stoning you for saying a very evil thing. You are only a man. But you claim to be God."
34 Jesus answered them, "Didn't God say in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'? (Psalm 82:6)35 We know that Scripture is always true. God spoke to some people and called them 'gods.'36 If that is true, what about the One the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why do you charge me with saying a very evil thing? Is it because I said, 'I am God's Son'?
37 "Don't believe me unless I do what my Father does.38 But what if I do it? Even if you don't believe me, believe the miracles. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
39 Again they tried to arrest him. But he escaped from them.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan River. He went to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed.41 Many people came to him. They said, "John never did a miraculous sign. But everything he said about this man was 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.