1 In truth I tell you, whoever does not go into the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up at some other place, that person is a thief and a robber; 2 but the person who goes in through the door is shepherd to the sheep. 3 For him the watchman opens the door; and the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 When he has brought them all out, he walks in front of them, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but will run away from him; because they do not know a stranger’s voice.” 6 This was the allegory that Jesus told them, but they did not understand of what he was speaking. 7 So he continued, “In truth I tell you, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door; he who goes in through me will be safe, and he will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it in greater fullness. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 12 The hired man who is not a shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, leaves them and runs away; then the wolf seizes them, and scatters the flock. 13 He does this because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and my sheep know me – 15 Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep besides, which do not belong to this fold; I must lead them also, and they will listen to my voice; and they will become one flock under one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life – to receive it again. 18 No one took it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This is the command which I received from my Father.”
19 In consequence of these words a difference of opinion again arose among the people. 20 Many of them said, “He is possessed by a demon and is mad; why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “This is not the teaching of one who is possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?”
25 “I have told you so,” replied Jesus, “and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father’s name bears testimony to me. 26 But you do not believe me, because you are not of my flock. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me; 28 and I give them eternal life, and they will not be lost; nor will anyone snatch them out of my hands. 29 What my Father has entrusted to me is more than all else; and no one can snatch anything out of the Father’s hands. 30 The Father and I are one.”
31 Some of the people again brought stones to throw at him; 32 and seeing this, Jesus said, “I have done before your eyes many good actions, inspired by the Father; for which of them would you stone me?”
33 “It is not for any good action that we would stone you,” they answered, “but for blasphemy; and because you, who are only a man, make yourself out to be God.”
34 “Are there not,” replied Jesus, “these words in your Law – ‘I said, You are gods’? 35 If those to whom God’s word were addressed were said to be ‘gods’ – and scripture cannot be set aside – 36 do you say of one whom the Father has consecrated and sent as his messenger to the world ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 If I am not doing the work that my Father is doing, do not believe me; 38 if I am doing it, even though you do not believe me, believe what that work shows; so that you may understand, and understand more and more clearly, that the Father is in union with me, and I with the Father.” 39 The authorities again sought to arrest him; but he escaped their hands.