The Good Shepherd and the Door
Study note
Using imagery deeply familiar to his Jewish audience, Jesus contrasts himself as the Good Shepherd with thieves, robbers, and hired workers. He declares 'I am the door' through which the sheep enter to find salvation and pasture, and 'I am the good shepherd' who gives his life for the sheep rather than abandoning them. He speaks of 'other sheep' not of this fold whom he must also bring, pointing to the inclusion of Gentiles. His voluntary laying down of his life and authority to take it up again reveal the nature of the coming atonement.
1 "Let me tell you something important. Anyone who sneaks into a sheep pen by climbing over the wall instead of using the gate is nothing but a thief and a robber." Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 "The real shepherd walks right in through the gate." But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 "The guard at the gate opens it for him. The sheep recognize the sound of his voice. He calls each of his sheep by their own name and leads them out." To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 "After he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice so well." And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 "They would never follow a stranger. They would run from a stranger because his voice sounds wrong to them." And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 Jesus told them this picture story, but they had no idea what he was getting at. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 So Jesus tried again: "Listen carefully -- I am the gate that the sheep go through." Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 "Everyone who came before me and tried to lead the sheep was a thief and a robber. But the sheep did not listen to them." All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 "I am the gate. Anyone who comes in through me will be safe. That person will be able to go in and out freely and will always find good food to eat." I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd is willing to die to protect his sheep." I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 "A hired worker who does not own the sheep sees a wolf running toward them. He drops everything and runs for his life, leaving the sheep behind. Then the wolf attacks the flock and chases the sheep in every direction." But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 "He runs because he is only in it for the money. He does not truly care about the sheep." The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd. I know every one of my sheep personally, and they know me." I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 "The Father and I know each other deeply, and in that same deep way, I know my sheep. I am willing to give up my life for them." As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 "I also have other sheep that are not part of this flock yet. I need to go and bring them in too. They will listen when I call, and then there will be one big flock with one shepherd." And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 "My Father loves me because I freely choose to lay down my life -- and I will pick it up again afterward." Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 "Nobody is forcing me to die. I am choosing to give my life on my own. I have the ability to lay it down, and I have the ability to take it back. My Father gave me this job to do." No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 Once again, the Jewish people were split over what Jesus was saying. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 Many of them said, "A demon has taken over his mind! He is crazy! Why does anyone bother listening to him?" And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 But others said, "These are not the words of someone controlled by a demon. Besides, can a demon give blind people their eyesight back?" Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication
Study note
During the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in winter, the Jewish leaders surround Jesus in Solomon's Porch demanding a plain answer about whether he is the Christ. Jesus points to his works as testimony and declares the eternal security of his sheep: 'I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.' His climactic statement 'I and my Father are one' provokes another attempt to stone him. Jesus appeals to the Scriptures and his works, then withdraws beyond the Jordan where many believe in him.
22 It was winter. The Feast of Dedication was going on in Jerusalem. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 Jesus was walking through the temple area, in the section known as Solomon's porch. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24 The Jewish leaders crowded around him and demanded, "How much longer are you going to keep us guessing? If you truly are the Christ, just come right out and say it!" Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus replied, "I already told you, and you would not believe me. The miracles I do in my Father's name prove who I am." Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26 "But you refuse to believe because you are not part of my flock." But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone pluck them out of my hand. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 "My Father, who gave them to me, is more powerful than anyone or anything. Nobody can tear them out of my Father's grip either." My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30 "My Father and I are one and the same." I and my Father are one.
31 The Jewish leaders grabbed rocks off the ground, ready to stone him to death. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus said to them, "I have done many wonderful things from my Father before you. Which one of those good things are you going to stone me for?" Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 They answered, "We are not stoning you for doing something good! We are stoning you for insulting God -- because you are just a man, and you are claiming to be God!" The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus responded, "Is there not a place in your own law where it says, 'I said, you are gods'?" Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 "If God himself called certain people 'gods' -- people who received his word -- and we know the Scripture cannot be wrong --" If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 "then why do you accuse me of insulting God because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? I am the one the Father chose and sent into the world!" Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 "If I am not doing the work my Father does, then go ahead and do not believe me." If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 "But if I am doing those things, then at least believe the evidence of the miracles, even if you do not believe my words. Then you will finally realize that the Father lives in me and I live in the Father." But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39 They tried to grab him again, but he slipped right through their hands and got away. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40 Jesus went back across the Jordan River. He went to the place where John had first been baptizing people. He stayed there for a while. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41 Many people came out to see him. They said, "John never performed a single miracle, but everything John said about this man turned out to be true!" And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42 A great number of people there put their faith in Jesus. And many believed on him there.