John 10:22-38

22It was the time for the Jewish Festival called Hanukkah. This happened in Jerusalem. It was winter.

23Jesus was walking in the yard of the temple, under a place with a roof. The place was called Solomon's porch.

24The Jewish leaders stood around him. They said to him, ‘We want to know who you are. When will you tell us? If you are the Messiah, tell us clearly.’

25Jesus answered, ‘I have already told you, but you do not believe. The things that I do by my Father's authority show you who I am.

26But you refuse to believe, because you are not my sheep.

27My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me.

28I give them life for ever with God. They will never die. Nobody can ever take them away from me.

29My Father has given them to me. He is greater than all things. Nobody can ever take my sheep out of my Father's hand.

30My Father and I are one.’

31Then the Jewish leaders picked up stones again to throw at Jesus so that they could kill him.

32Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good things. The Father sent me to do them, and I have shown them to you. Which of those good things make you want to kill me with stones?’

33The Jewish leaders answered, ‘We do not want to kill you because of any good things that you have done. We want to kill you because you are speaking against God. You are only a man, but you are saying that you are God.’

34Jesus answered them, ‘It is written in your own books of God's Law that God said, “You are gods.”

35God called the people to whom he spoke “gods”. And you know that the Bible always remains true.

36So, when I said that I am God's Son, why am I wrong? The Father chose me for himself. And he sent me into the world. So you should not say that I am speaking bad things against God.

37If I am not doing my Father's work, do not believe me.

38But if I am doing his work, you should believe that work. Even if you do not believe me, you should believe the things that I do. Then you will know certainly that the Father is in me. And you will know that I am in the Father.’