John 10
1 “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
“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.
2 But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
The one who comes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
After bringing them out, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.
5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
They won't follow strangers. In fact they run away from a stranger because they don't recognize the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
When Jesus gave this illustration those who were listening to him didn't understand what he meant.
7 So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
So Jesus explained again, “I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheepfold.
8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
All those who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
9 I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
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.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I've come to bring you life, life full to overflowing.
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 the sheep.
12 The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
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
13 The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
for the man is only working for pay and doesn't care about the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
I am the good shepherd. I know who are mine, and they know me,
15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
just as the Father knows me and I know him. I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
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.
17 The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.
This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
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.”
19 Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.
The Jews were again divided in their opinion about Jesus over these words.
20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
Many of them said, “He's demon-possessed! He's mad! Why are you listening to him?”
21 But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Others said, “These aren't the words of someone who's demon-possessed. Besides, a demon can't open eyes that are blind.”
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,
It was winter, and the time of the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem.
23 and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.
Jesus was walking in the Temple through Solomon's porch. The Jews surrounded him, asking,
24 So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
“How long are you going to keep us hanging in suspense? If you are the Messiah then tell us plainly!”
25 “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
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.
26 But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
You don't believe me because you are not my sheep.
27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
My Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone else; no one can snatch them from him.
30 I and the Father are one.”
I and the Father are one.”
31 At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him.
32 But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
Jesus said to them, “You've seen many good deeds that I've done from the Father. Which one are you stoning me for?”
33 “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”
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.”
34 Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
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 cannot be broken—
He called those people ‘gods,’ the people to whom the word of God came—and Scripture can't be altered.
36 then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
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’?
37 If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
If I'm not doing what my Father does, then don't believe me.
38 But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
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.”
39 At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
Once again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from them.
40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
He went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had begun baptizing, and he stayed there.
41 Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
Many people came to him, and they said, “John didn't perform miracles, but everything he said about this man has come true.”
42 And many in that place believed in Jesus.
Many who were there put their trust in Jesus.
