John 10
1 “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't come in through the gate of the sheepfold but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.
In truth I tell you, whoever does not go into the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up at some other place, that person is a thief and a robber;
2 The one who comes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
but the person who goes in through the door is shepherd to the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
For him the watchman opens the door; and the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
4 After bringing them out, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.
When he has brought them all out, he walks in front of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice.
5 They won't follow strangers. In fact they run away from a stranger because they don't recognize the voice of strangers.”
They will not follow a stranger, but will run away from him; because they do not know a stranger’s voice.”
6 When Jesus gave this illustration those who were listening to him didn't understand what he meant.
This was the allegory that Jesus told them, but they did not understand of what he was speaking.
7 So Jesus explained again, “I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheepfold.
So he continued, “In truth I tell you, I am the door for the sheep.
8 All those who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
All who came before me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 I am the gate. Anyone who comes in through me will be healed. They will be able to come and go, and find the food they need.
I am the door; he who goes in through me will be safe, and he will go in and out and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I've come to bring you life, life full to overflowing.
The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it in greater fullness.
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
12 The man paid to look after the sheep is not the shepherd and he runs away when he sees the wolf coming. He abandons the sheep because they're not his, and the wolf attacks and scatters the flock
The hired man who is not a shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, leaves them and runs away; then the wolf seizes them, and scatters the flock.
13 for the man is only working for pay and doesn't care about the sheep.
He does this because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know who are mine, and they know me,
I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me –
15 just as the Father knows me and I know him. I lay down my life for the sheep.
Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
I have other sheep besides, which do not belong to this fold; I must lead them also, and they will listen to my voice; and they will become one flock under one shepherd.
17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so I may take it up again.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life – to receive it again.
18 No one takes it from me; I choose to lay it down. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is the command my Father gave me.”
No one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father.”
19 The Jews were again divided in their opinion about Jesus over these words.
In consequence of these words a difference of opinion again arose among the people.
20 Many of them said, “He's demon-possessed! He's mad! Why are you listening to him?”
Many of them said, “He is possessed by a demon and is mad; why do you listen to him?”
21 Others said, “These aren't the words of someone who's demon-possessed. Besides, a demon can't open eyes that are blind.”
Others said, “This is not the teaching of one who is possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?”
22 It was winter, and the time of the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem.
Soon after this the Festival of the Rededication was held at Jerusalem.
23 Jesus was walking in the Temple through Solomon's porch. The Jews surrounded him, asking,
It was winter; and Jesus was walking in the Temple Courts, in the Colonnade of Solomon,
24 “How long are you going to keep us hanging in suspense? If you are the Messiah then tell us plainly!”
when the people gathered around him, and said, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so frankly.”
25 Jesus replied, “I already told you but you refuse to believe it. The miracles I do in my Father's name prove who I am.
“I have told you so,” replied Jesus, “and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father’s name bears testimony to me.
26 You don't believe me because you are not my sheep.
But you do not believe me, because you are not of my flock.
27 My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me;
29 My Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone else; no one can snatch them from him.
What my Father has entrusted to me is more than all else; and no one can snatch anything out of the Father’s hands.
30 I and the Father are one.”
The Father and I are one.”
31 Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him.
Some of the people again brought stones to throw at him;
32 Jesus said to them, “You've seen many good deeds that I've done from the Father. Which one are you stoning me for?”
and seeing this, Jesus said, “I have done before your eyes many good actions, inspired by the Father; for which of them would you stone me?”
33 The Jews replied, “We're not stoning you for a good deed, but for blasphemy because you are just a man but you're claiming to be God.”
“It is not for any good action that we would stone you,” they answered, “but for blasphemy; and because you, who are only a man, make yourself out to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn't it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
“Are there not,” replied Jesus, “these words in your Law – ‘I said, You are gods’?
35 He called those people ‘gods,’ the people to whom the word of God came—and Scripture can't be altered.
If those to whom God’s word were addressed were said to be ‘gods’ – and scripture cannot be set aside –
36 So why are you saying the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said ‘I am the Son of God’?
do you say of one whom the Father has consecrated and sent as his messenger to the world ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said ‘I am God’s Son’?
37 If I'm not doing what my Father does, then don't believe me.
If I am not doing the work that my Father is doing, do not believe me;
38 But if that is what I'm doing, even though you don't believe me, you should believe because of the evidence of what I've done. That way you can know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”
if I am doing it, even though you do not believe me, believe what that work shows; so that you may understand, and understand more and more clearly, that the Father is in union with me, and I with the Father.”
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from them.
The authorities again sought to arrest him; but he escaped their hands.
40 He went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had begun baptizing, and he stayed there.
Then Jesus again crossed the Jordan to the place where John used to baptize at first, and stayed there some time, during which many people came to see him.
41 Many people came to him, and they said, “John didn't perform miracles, but everything he said about this man has come true.”
“John gave no sign of his mission,” they said. “But everything that he said about this man was true.”
42 Many who were there put their trust in Jesus.
And many learned to believe in Jesus there.
