1'IN TRUTH I tell you, in very truth, the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is nothing but a thief or a robber. 2The man who enters by the door is the shepherd in charge of the sheep. 3The door-keeper admits him, and the sheep hear his voice; he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4When he has brought them all out, he goes ahead and the sheep follow, because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.'
6This was a parable that Jesus told them, but they did not understand what he meant by it.
7So Jesus spoke again; 'In truth, in very truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold. 8The sheep paid no heed to any who came before me, for these were all thieves and robbers. 9I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me shall be safe. He shall go in and out and shall find pasturage.
10'The thief comes only to steal, to kill, to destroy; I have come that men may have life, and may have it in all its fullness. 11I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hireling, when he sees the wolf coming, abandons the sheep and runs away, because he is no shepherd and the sheep are not his. Then the wolf harries the flock and scatters the sheep. 13The man runs away because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep.
14'I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep and my sheep know me? 15as the Father knows me and I know the Father?and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16But there are other sheep of mine, not belonging to this fold, whom I must bring in; and they too will listen to my voice. There will then be one flock, one shepherd. 17The Father loves me because I lay down my life, to receive it back again. 18No one has robbed me of it; I am laying it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to receive it back again; this charge I have received from my Father.'
19These words once again caused a split among the Jews. 20Many of them said, 'He is possessed, he is raving. Why listen to him?' 21Others said, 'No one possessed by an evil spirit could speak like this. Could an evil spirit open blind men's eyes?'
22IT WAS WINTER, and the festival of the Dedication was being held in Jerusalem. 23Jesus was walking in the temple precincts, in Solomon's Portico. 24The Jews gathered round him and asked: 'How long must you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah say so plainly.' 25'I have told you,' said Jesus, 'but you do not believe. My deeds done in my Father's name are my credentials, 26but because you are not sheep of my flock you do not believe. 27My own sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one shall snatch them from my care. 29My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father's care. 30My Father and I are one.'
31Once again the Jews picked up stones to stone him. 32At this Jesus said to them, 'I have set before you many good deeds, done by my Father's power, for which of these would you stone me?' 33The Jews replied, 'We are not going to stone you for any good deed, but for your blasphemy. You, a mere man, claim to be a god.' 34 [ Ps.82.6. ] Jesus answered, 'Is it not written in your own Law, "I said: You are gods"? 35Those are called gods to whom the word of God was delivered—and Scripture cannot be set aside. 36Then why do you charge me with blasphemy because I, consecrated and sent into the world by the Father, said, "I am God's son"?
37'If I am not acting as my Father would, do not believe me. 38But if I am, accept the evidence of my deeds, even if you do not believe me, so that you may recognize and know that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.'
39This provoked them to one more attempt to seize him. But he escaped from their clutches.
40JESUS WITHDREW AGAIN across the Jordan, to the place where John had been baptizing earlier. 41There he stayed, while crowds came to him. They said, 'John gave us no miraculous sign, but all that he said about this man was true.' 42Many came to believe in him there.
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