John 10:1-21 - Jesus As The Good Shepherd
1 Truly, truly I tell you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs up somewhere else, he is a thief and a robber; 2 he who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gate-keeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice; he calls his sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his sheep outside, he goes in front of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice; 5 they will not follow a stranger, they will run from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."
6 Jesus told them this allegory, but they did not understand what he was saying to them;
7 so he said to them again, "Truly, truly I tell you, I am the shepherd of the sheep; 8 all who ever came before me have been thieves and robbers ??but the sheep would not listen to them. 9 (I am the Gate; whoever enters by me will be saved, he will go in and out and find pasture.) 10 The thief only comes to steal, to slay, and to destroy: I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
11 I am the good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his own life for the sheep. 12 The hired man, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, deserts them when he sees the wolf coming; he runs away, leaving the wolf to tear and scatter them, 13 just because he is a hired man, who has no interest in the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, 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, too, which do not belong to this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice; so it will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why my Father loves me, because I lay down my life to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, I lay it down of my own accord: I have power to lay it down and also power to take it up again; I have my Father's orders for this.
19 The Jews were again divided over these words. 20 A number of them said, "He is mad. Why listen to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not a madman's words. Can a madman open the eyes of the blind?"