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John
Chapter 10
1I tell you the
truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the
gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The man
who
enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the
gate
for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by
name
and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on
ahead of
them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they
will
never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because
they do
not recognize a strangers voice. 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but
they
did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the
sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the
sheep
did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will
be
saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes
only
to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and
have
it to the full.
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep.
12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees
the
wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks
the
flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand
and
cares nothing for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me15just as
the
Father knows me and I know the Fatherand I lay down my life for the
sheep.
16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also.
They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one
shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my lifeonly
to
take it up again. 18No 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 command I received from my Father.
19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, He is
demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?
21But others said, These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a
demon.
Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
22Then came the Feast of Dedicationat Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and
Jesus
was in the temple area walking in Solomons Colonnade. 24The Jews
gathered
around him, saying, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are
the
Christ,tell us plainly.
25Jesus answered, I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I
do
in my Fathers name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you
are not
my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow
me. 28I
give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch
them
out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than
all;
no one can snatch them out of my Fathers hand. 30I and the Father are
one.
31Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32but Jesus said to
them, I
have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these
do you
stone me?
33We are not stoning you for any of these, replied the Jews, but for
blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.
34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, I have said you
are
gods? 35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God cameand the
Scripture
cannot be broken36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his
very
own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy
because I
said, I am Gods Son? 37Do not believe me unless I do what my Father
does.
38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the
miracles,
that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the
Father. 39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had
been
baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed 41and many people came to
him.
They said, Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John
said
about this man was true. 42And in that place many believed in Jesus
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