Montgomery - John - 10

10:1  "In solemn truth I tell you that whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, that man is a thief and a robber;

10:2  "but he who comes in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

10:3  "The porter opens the door for him; the sheep listen to his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

10:4  "When he has brought all his own sheep, he walks before them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

10:5  "But a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

10:6  Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was talking about; so he said to them again.

10:7  "In solemn truth I tell you that I am the Door of the sheep.

10:8  "All that came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

10:9  "I am the Door. Whoever enters by me shall be saved, and he shall go in and come out and find pasture.

10:10  "The thief never comes except to steal and kill and destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it in abundance.

10:11  "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his very life for the sheep.

10:12  "The hired servant, since he is not a shepherd and does not own his sheep, leaves the sheep and flees when he sees a wolf coming - and the wolf worries them and scatters them.

10:13  "He is only a hired servant, and the sheep are no care to him.

10:14  "I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me;

10:15  just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.

10:16  "I have other sheep also, which do not belong to this fold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.

10:17  "The Father loves me for this, because I am laying down my life that I may take it again.

10:18  "No man is taking it away from me. I am laying it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father."

10:19  The Jews were again divided over these words.

10:20  Many of them kept saying. "He has a demon and is mad! Why do you listen to him?"

10:21  Others were saying. "These are not the words of one demon-possessed. Can a demoniac open the eyes of the blind?"

10:22  Then came the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.

10:23  It was winter, and Jesus used to walk in the Temple, in Solomon’s Portico.

10:24  Then all the Jews encircled him and kept asking him. "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."

10:25  Jesus answered them. "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works which I am doing in my Father’s name, these bear witness concerning me.

10:26  "But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep.

10:27  "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them and they follow me.

10:28  "I am giving them eternal life, and they shall never perish, nor shall any one snatch them out of my hand.

10:29  "My Father who has given them to me is stronger than all, and no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

10:30  "I and my Father are one."

10:31  The Jews again took stones with which to stone him. Jesus said to them.

10:32  "I have shown you many good deeds from my Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?"

10:33  "We are not going to stone you for a good deed," answered the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, are making yourself God."

10:34  "Is it written in your law," replied Jesus, "I said, You are gods?

10:35  "If those to whom the word of God came are called gods (and the Scripture cannot be annulled),

10:36  do you mean to tell me, whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

10:37  "If I am not doing the deeds of my Father, do not believe me.

10:38  "But if I am doing them, then though you believe not me, believe the deeds, in order that you may come to know and keep on clearly understanding that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."

10:39  Then again they attempted to seize him, but he escaped out of their hands,

10:40  and went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained.

10:41  Many who came to him said, "John did not perform any signs, but everything he said about this man was true."

10:42  And many believed on him there.