Jesus the Good Shepherd

1I assure you, he that entreth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2but he that enters in by the door, is the pastor of the sheep. 3the porter lets him in, and the sheep know his voice: he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out to pasture. 4when he lets out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: because they know his voice. 5a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6Jesus talk'd to them in this figurative way: but they did not understand the meaning of his discourse.

7Jesus therefore subjoin'd, I declare unto you, I am the door of the sheep-fold. 8they who have personated me, are all thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not follow them. 9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved; he shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10the thief comes only to steal, to kill, and destroy: but I am come that they might have life, and have it with all its advantages.

11I am the true pastor: the true pastor exposes his life for the sheep. 12but the hireling, who is not the pastor, nor has the property of the sheep, seeing the wolf come, leaves the sheep, and flies away: so the wolf seizes some, and disperses the flock. 13the hireling flies, because he is an hireling, and is under no concern for the sheep. 14I am the true pastor, I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, 15(as the father and I are known to one another:) and I lay down my life for them. 16other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring; they will hear my voice; and so there shall be but one fold, and one pastor. 17therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, but I shall reassume it. 18no man can take it from me, but I voluntarily lay it down: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again, this is the order I have received from my father.

19There was another schism therefore among the Jews, occasion'd by this discourse. 20for many of them said, he is possess'd with a demon, and is mad; why do you mind him? 21others said, this is not the language of one possess'd: can a demon give sight to the blind?

Jesus at the Feast of Dedication

22At length the feast of the dedication was kept at Jerusalem, when the weather happen'd to be foul. 23as Jesus therefore was walking in the temple in Solomon's portico, 24the Jews came about him, and said, how long will you keep us in suspense? if you are the Messiah, tell us plainly. 25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye did not believe me: the works that I do in my father's name, they testify of me. 26but, as I said before, you do not believe; because ye are not of my sheep. 27my sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28it is I that give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any one force them out of my hand. 29my father who gave them me, is greater than all: so that no one is able to force them out of my father's hand. 30I and my father are one.

31then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, many good works have I shewed you from my father; for which of those works would you stone me? 33the Jews answered him, saying, it is not for any good work that we stone thee; but for blasphemy, inasmuch as you, being a man, pretend to be a God. 34Jesus answered them, is it not written in your law, "I said ye are Gods?" 35if the law stiles them Gods, who received the orders of God, and if the scripture is of any authortiy, 36how can you say that I blaspheme, I whom the father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, because I said I am the son of God? 37if I do not the works of my father, believe me not. 38but 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. 39Thereupon they again endeavour'd to seize him: but he escaped out of their hands, and retir'd beyond Jordan,

John’s Testimony Confirmed

40to the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41and many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but every thing that he said concerning this man, was true. 42so that many people there believed on him.