1“Very truly, I say to you (the Pharisees of the preceding chapter, of which this is a continuation of the discourse), anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2But he that enters in by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3To the shepherd, the gatekeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
4And when he has brought out his own sheep, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.
5But they will not follow a stranger, but will run away from him; for they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus told them this parable; but they did not understand what it meant.
7Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8Any that came before me are thieves and robbers (imposters); but the sheep did not listen to them.
9I am the door (gate); if any man enters in through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.
11I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
12But the hireling (Jewish religious leaders) is not the shepherd, and does not own the sheep; so when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep, and runs away. Then the wolf scatters and catches the sheep.
13The hireling runs away because he is a hired hand, and does not care about the sheep.
14I am the good Shepherd, and I know My sheep, and they know Me.
15Just as the Father knows Me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16And other sheep I have, who are not of this fold; I must also bring them, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall be merged into one fold (flock), with one Shepherd.
17Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, so that I might take it up again.
18No man takes it from Me, but I voluntarily lay it down of My Own volition. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment (charge) I have received from My Father.” Verse 16 – “And other sheep I have, who are not of this fold; them I must also bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold (flock), and one Shepherd. God’s flock was broader than God’s fold (Israel); it included members of the Gentile nations. (See Isaiah 56:8). This expanded flock will not necessarily be one of uniformity, but of unity. He has just called the Jewish religious leaders faithless “hirelings” (vv. 12-13), and here He compounds their chagrin by telling them that the Messiah has ‘sheep’ from other folds – pagan nations – that He must also gather in.
19These sayings resulted in a division among the Jews:
20Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is mad; why do you listen to Him?”
21But others said, “These are not the words of someone who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
22And it was now winter and time for the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem.
23And Jesus was in the temple, walking in Solomon's porch (Colonnade).
24Then the Jews gathered around Him, and asked Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, and you didn’t believe; the miracles that I do in My Father's name bear witness of Me.
26But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I told you.
27My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me;
28And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, nor shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
29My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no man can pluck them out of My Father's hand.
30I and My Father are One.”
31Then, again, His Jewish adversaries picked up stones to throw at Him.
32 But Jesus said to them, “Many good works (miracles) have I shown you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?”
33The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for any good work; but for blasphemy: because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
34Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your own law (Scriptures), where God said ‘I said, ‘You are gods’? (Psalm 82:6)”
35If God called them who received the word of God, ‘gods’, and the scripture cannot be set aside;
36Why do you say of Him, Whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme’; because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37If I do not do the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
38But if I do, though you don’t believe Me, at least believe the works; that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
39Then they again tried to seize Him; but He escaped their grasp.
40And then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first baptized; and there He stayed.
41And many people gathered to Him, and said, “John did no miracles; but everything that John said of this Man were true.”
42And many believed in Jesus there. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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