John 10
10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen through the gate, but who climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own sheep, he walks on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away, because they don’t recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus was using an example, but the Pharisees didn’t understand what he was telling them.
7So Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All those who’ve come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep haven’t listened to them. 9I am the gate; anyone who enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find good places to graze. 10A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life and have it in the fullest possible way.
11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives up his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand isn’t the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep. So when he sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he’s a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.
14“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. 15They know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give up my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep who aren’t in this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They will also listen to my voice, and then there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will get it back again. 18No 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. This is the command I received from my Father.”
19The Jews who heard these words disagreed with each other. 20Many of them said, “He’s controlled by a demon! He’s gone crazy! Why should we listen to him?”
21But others said, “A person controlled by a demon doesn’t say things like this. Can a demon restore the sight of someone who’s blind?”
Another Challenge to Jesus’ Claims
22In the winter, during the Feast of Hanukkah at Jerusalem, 23Jesus was in the temple courtyard, walking through Solomon’s Porch. 24The Jewish leaders surrounded him and demanded, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you’re the Messiah, come right out and say so.”
25Jesus answered, “I did say so, but you didn’t believe me. The works that I do in my Father’s name are a witness for me. 26But you don’t believe, because you’re not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never die. No one will steal them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than anyone. No one can steal them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”
31Once again the Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill him. 32But Jesus said to them, “I’ve shown you many good works from the Father. Which good work are you going to throw stones at me for?”
33“We’re not going to throw stones at you for any good work,” they answered. “We’re going to stone you because you claim to be God when you’re only a man.”
34Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’? 35We know that Scripture is always true. If God could speak to some people and call them ‘gods,’ 36then what about the one the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why do you accuse me of doing wrong because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37Don’t believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38But if I do them, even if you don’t believe me, believe the works. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39They tried again to arrest him, but he escaped from them.
40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. He stayed there 41and many people came to him. They said, “John never performed a sign, but everything he said about this man was true.” 42And in that place many people believed in Jesus.
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