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.
“Most assuredly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 The one who comes in through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of 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.
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear 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.
And whenever he takes out his own sheep he goes ahead of them, and the 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.”
But they will not follow a stranger; rather they will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
6 When Jesus gave this illustration those who were listening to him didn't understand what he meant.
Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
7 So Jesus explained again, “I tell you the truth: I am the gate of the sheepfold.
Then Jesus addressed them again: “Most assuredly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All those who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
All who ever came before me are 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. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and 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 in order to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
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 on behalf of the 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
But the hired man, not being the shepherd and not owning the sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep, and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
13 for the man is only working for pay and doesn't care about the sheep.
Now the hired man runs away because he is a hired man and it does not matter to him 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 own sheep, and I am known by them.
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, I also know the Father, and I lay down my life on behalf of 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 also have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so I may take it up again.
“Because of this the Father loves me, in that I lay down my life so that I may take it up 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 takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”
19 The Jews were again divided in their opinion about Jesus over these words.
Therefore there was another division among the Jews because of these words.
20 Many of them said, “He's demon-possessed! He's mad! Why are you listening to him?”
Many of them were saying: “He has a demon and is raving 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 were saying: “These are not the sayings of someone who is demonized. A demon cannot open blind people's eyes, can it?”
22 It was winter, and the time of the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem.
Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem; and it was winter.
23 Jesus was walking in the Temple through Solomon's porch. The Jews surrounded him, asking,
And Jesus was walking about in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
24 “How long are you going to keep us hanging in suspense? If you are the Messiah then tell us plainly!”
Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him: “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
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.
Jesus answered them: “I did tell you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name—these testify concerning me.
26 You don't believe me because you are not my sheep.
But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep, just like I told you.
27 My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
My sheep hear my voice, and 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.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch out of my Father's hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”
I and the Father are one.”
31 Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him.
Therefore the Jews picked up stones again to stone 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?”
Jesus answered them: “Many good works I have shown you from my Father. For which one of them are you stoning 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.”
The Jews answered Him saying, “It is not for a good work that we are stoning you, but for blasphemy; precisely because you, being a man, make yourself God!”
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn't it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
Jesus answered them: “Is it not written 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 He called them ‘gods’ to whom the Word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
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 ‘You are blaspheming’ to the One the Father sanctified and sent into the world 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 works of my Father, 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.”
But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in Him.”
39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he escaped from them.
So they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped from their hand.
40 He went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had begun baptizing, and he stayed there.
He went away again across the Jordan, to the place where John was baptizing at first; and He remained there.
41 Many people came to him, and they said, “John didn't perform miracles, but everything he said about this man has come true.”
And many came to Him and said, “Though John did not perform any sign, everything John said about this man was true.”
42 Many who were there put their trust in Jesus.
And many of the people there believed into Him.
