John 10:1-18

1“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is 1a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is 2a shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear 3his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and 4leads them out. 4When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know 5his voice. 5A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know 6the voice of strangers.” 6This 7figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

7So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am 8the door of the sheep. 8All who came before Me are 9thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 910I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they 11may have life, and 12have it abundantly.

11“13I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd 14lays down His life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a 15shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 1416I am the good shepherd, and 17I know My own and My own know Me, 15even as 18the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and 19I lay down My life for the sheep. 16I have 20other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become 21one flock with 22one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves Me, because I 23lay down My life so that I may take it again. 1824No one has taken it away from Me, but I 25lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. 26This commandment I received from My Father.”