The Gospel According to John

"In most solemn truth I tell you that the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs over some other way, is a thief and a robber.

But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the porter opens the door, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by their names and leads them out.

When he has brought out his own sheep--all of them--he walks at the head of them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

But a stranger they will by no means follow, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

Jesus spoke to them in this figurative language, but they did not understand what He meant.

Again therefore Jesus said to them, "In most solemn truth I tell you that I am the Door of the sheep.

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep would not listen to them.

I am the Door. If any one enters by me, he will find safety, and will go in and out and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I have come that they may have Life, and may have it in abundance.

"I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his very life for the sheep.

The hired servant--one who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep--no sooner sees the wolf coming than he leaves the sheep and runs away; and the wolf worries and scatters them.

For he is only a hired servant and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the Good Shepherd. And I know my sheep and my sheep know me,

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I am laying down my life for the sheep.

I have also other sheep--which do not belong to this fold. Those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice; and they shall become one flock under one Shepherd.

For this reason my Father loves me, because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again.

No one is taking it away from me, but I myself am laying it down. I am authorized to lay it down, and I am authorized to receive it back again. This is the command I received from my Father."

Again there arose a division among the Jews because of these words.

Many of them said, "He is possessed by a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to him?"

Others argued, "That is not the language of a demoniac: and can a demon open blind men's eyes?"

The Dedication Festival came on in Jerusalem. It was winter,

and Jesus was walking in the Temple in Solomon's Portico,

when the Jews gathered round Him and kept asking Him, "How long do you mean to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us so plainly."

"I have told you," answered Jesus, "and you do not believe. The deeds that I do in my Father's name--they give testimony about me.

But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep.

My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I give them the Life of the Ages, and they shall never, never perish, nor shall any one wrest them from my hand.

What my Father has given me is more precious than all besides; and no one is able to wrest anything from my Father's hand.

I and the Father are one."

Again the Jews brought stones with which to stone Him.