Jesus the Good Shepherd
(Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)

1Truly, truly, I say to you, He not coming in through the door into the court-yard of the sheep, but coming up from another place, he is a thief and robber. 2And he coming in through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the guard of the door opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4And when he would put forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger they would not follow, but they will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This proverb spake Jesus to then: and they knew not what things they were which he spake to them.

7Then said Jesus again to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, That I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep heard them not. 9I am the door: if any come in through me, he shall be saved, and he shall me in, and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes not, except that he steal, and sacrifice, and destroy: I came that they might have life, and have above measure.

11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12But the hired one, and not being the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and he leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf plunders them, and scatters the sheep. 13The hired flees, because he is hired, and no care is to him for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and I know mine, and am known by mine. 15As the Father knows me, I also know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And I have, other sheep, which are not of this court-yard: and I must also bring them, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd. 17Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No one takes 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 command received I of my Father.

19Then was a division again among the Jews for these words. 20And many of them said, He has a demon, and is frenzied; why hear ye him? 21Others said, These are not the words of a demon. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind.

Jesus at the Feast of Dedication

22And there was the festival of inauguration among the Jerusalemites, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24Then the Jews surrounded him, and said to him, How long takest thou away our soul? If thou art Christ, say to us with freedom of speech. 25Jesus answered them, I said to you, and ye believe not: the works which I do in my Father's name, these testify of me. 26But ye believe not, for ye are not of my sheep, as I said to you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

31Then again lifted up the Jews stones that they might stone him. 32Jesus Answered them, Many good works I shewed you from my Father; for which of these works do ye stone me. 33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and that thou, being man, makest thyself God. 34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said; Ye are gods? 35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the writing cannot be loosed; 36Whom the Father consecrated, and sent into the world, say ye that thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God. 37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38And if I do, though ye believe me not, believe the works: that ye might know, and believe, that the Father in me, and I in him. 39Then sought they again to take him: and he went out from their hand,

John’s Testimony Confirmed

40And again he departed beyond Jordan to the place where John was first immersing; and he remained there. 41And many came to him, and said, That truly John did no sign: but all which John said of him was true. 42And many believed in him there.