John Chapter 10 (NIV)
undefined
The Shepherd and His Flock“I 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.
undefined
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
undefined
The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
undefined
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
undefined
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
undefined
Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
undefined
Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
undefined
All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
undefined
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
undefined
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
undefined
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
undefined
The 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.
undefined
The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
undefined
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
undefined
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
undefined
I 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.
undefined
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
undefined
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 command I received from my Father.”
undefined
At these words the Jews were again divided.
undefined
Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
undefined
But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
undefined
The Unbelief of the JewsThen came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter,
undefined
and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.
undefined
The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
undefined
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me,
undefined
but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
undefined
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
undefined
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
undefined
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
undefined
I and the Father are one.”
undefined
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him,
undefined
but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
undefined
“We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
undefined
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’?
undefined
If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
undefined
what 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 God’s Son’?
undefined
Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.
undefined
But 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.”
undefined
Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
undefined
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed
undefined
and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.”
undefined
And in that place many believed in Jesus.
Deepen Your Study
Use AI-powered tools to understand this passage better
Ask AI About This Chapter Search Related Verses