[1] "Most assuredly, I tell you, he who doesn`t enter by the door into the
sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
[2] But he who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] The
gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He
calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. [4] Whenever he brings out
his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know
his voice. [5] They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from
him; for they don`t know the voice of strangers." [6] Jesus spoke this
parable to them, but they didn`t understand what he was telling them. [7]
Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most assuredly, I tell you, I am the
sheep`s door. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the
sheep didn`t listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters in by me,
he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. [10]
The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have
life, and may have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand, and
not a shepherd, who doesn`t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the
sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. [13] The
hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn`t care for the
sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I`m known by my own;
[15] even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life
for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must
bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock
with one shepherd. [17] Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down
my life, that I may take it again. [18] No one takes it away from me, but I
lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to
take it again. I received this commandment from my Father." [19] Therefore
a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. [20] Many of
them said, "He has a demon, and is mad! Why do you listen to 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] 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 around him and
said to him, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ,
tell us plainly." [25] Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you don`t
believe. The works that I do in my Father`s name, these testify about me.
[26] But you don`t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
[27] My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. [28] I
give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch
them out of my hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to me, is greater
than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father`s hand. [30] I and
the Father are one." [31] Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him.
[32] Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father.
For which of those works do you stone me?" [33] The Jews answered him, "We
don`t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a
man, make yourself God." [34] Jesus answered them, "Isn`t it written in
your law, `I said, you are gods?` [35] If he called them gods, to whom the
word of God came (and the scripture can`t be broken), [36] Do you say of
him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, `You blaspheme,`
because I said, `I am the Son of God?` [37] If I don`t do the works of my
Father, don`t believe me. [38] But if I do them, though you don`t believe
me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in
me, and I in the Father." [39] They sought again to seize him, and he went
forth out of their hand. [40] He went away again beyond the Jordan into the
place where John was at the first baptizing, and there he stayed. [41] Many
came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign, but everything whatever
that John said about this man is true." [42] Many believed in him there.