Thematic Bible: Of the people of Christ
Thematic Bible
Sheep » Illustrative » Of the people of Christ
Again he asked him, for the second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Why, Lord," he said, "you know I love you." "Then be a shepherd to my sheep," said Jesus. For the third time he asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Now Peter was vexed at being asked a third time, "Do you love me?" So he replied; "Lord, you know everything, you can see I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep.
so he said to them again, "Truly, truly I tell you, I am the shepherd of the sheep; all who ever came before me have been thieves and robbers ??but the sheep would not listen to them. (I am the Gate; whoever enters by me will be saved, he will go in and out and find pasture.) read more.
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. I am the good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his own life for the sheep. 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, just because he is a hired man, who has no interest in the sheep. I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me (just as the Father knows me and I know the Father,) and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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. This is why my Father loves me, because I lay down my life to take it up again. 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. The Jews were again divided over these words. A number of them said, "He is mad. Why listen to him?" Others said, "These are not a madman's words. Can a madman open the eyes of the blind?" [vss 22-29 moved to follow 9:41] Then came the festival of Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus used to walk inside the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have told you, but you do not believe; the deeds I do in the name of my Father testify to me, but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.
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. I am the good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his own life for the sheep. 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, just because he is a hired man, who has no interest in the sheep. I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep and my sheep know me (just as the Father knows me and I know the Father,) and I lay down my life for the sheep. 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. This is why my Father loves me, because I lay down my life to take it up again. 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. The Jews were again divided over these words. A number of them said, "He is mad. Why listen to him?" Others said, "These are not a madman's words. Can a madman open the eyes of the blind?" [vss 22-29 moved to follow 9:41] Then came the festival of Dedication at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus used to walk inside the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered round him and asked, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have told you, but you do not believe; the deeds I do in the name of my Father testify to me, but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.