Jesus the Good Shepherd

(Psalm 23:1-6; Ezekiel 34:11-24)

1Verily, verily, I say to you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2But he that entereth by the door, is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6This parable spoke Jesus to them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke to them.

7Then said Jesus to them again, Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9I am the door: by me if any man shall enter he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known by mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18No man taketh it 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 have I received from my Father.

19There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is insane; why hear ye him? 21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?

The Unbelief of the Jews

22And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24Then came the Jews around him, and said to him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly. 25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I did in my Father's name, they testify concerning me. 26But ye believe not, because 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 to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shown you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a 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 scripture cannot be broken; 36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him. 39Therefore they sought again to take him; but he escaped from their hand,

Many across the Jordan Believe

40And went again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41And many resorted to him, and said, John performed no miracle; but all things that John spoke of this man were true. 42And many believed on him there.