PARABLE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the
door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the
same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the
door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth;
and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by
name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them,
and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a
stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for
they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things
they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the
sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter
in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find
pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that
they might have _it_ more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for
the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd,
whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and
leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catches them, and
scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an
hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good
shepherd, and know my _sheep_, and am known of mine. As the
Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down
my life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also
I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be
one fold, _and_ one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love
me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No
man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself, I have
power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Others said, these are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a
devil open the eyes of the blind?
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews
round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to
doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them,
I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not,
because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any _man_ pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which
gave _them_ me, is greater than all; and no _man_ is able to
pluck _them_ out of my Father's hand. I and _my_ Father are
one.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them,
Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of
those works do ye stone me?
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but
for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus answered them,
Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? If he
called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the
Scripture cannot be broken; Say ye of him, whom the Father
hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest;
because I said I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of
my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not
me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the
Father _is_ in me, and I in him.
Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their
hand, and went away again beyond Jordan into the place were John at
first baptized; and there he abode. And many resorted unto him, and
said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man
were true. And many believed on him there.