John 10:1-21 - Jesus As The Good Shepherd
1 In truth I tell you, whoever does not go into the sheepfold through the door, but climbs up at some other place, that man is a thief and a robber; 2 But the man 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 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 shall 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 Jews. 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?"