Jesus the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)
1 AKJV Truly, truly, I say to you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. BSB BSB: “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 AKJV But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. BSB BSB: But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 AKJV To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. BSB BSB: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 AKJV And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. BSB BSB: When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 AKJV And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. BSB BSB: But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
6 AKJV This parable spoke Jesus to them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke to them. BSB BSB: Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
7 AKJV Then said Jesus to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. BSB BSB: So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 AKJV All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. BSB BSB: All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 AKJV I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. BSB BSB: I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
10 AKJV The thief comes 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. BSB BSB: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
12 AKJV But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. BSB BSB: The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
13 AKJV The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep. BSB BSB: The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
14 AKJV I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. BSB BSB: I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
15 AKJV As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. BSB BSB: just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
19 AKJV There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. BSB BSB: Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.
20 AKJV And many of them said, He has a devil, and is mad; why hear you him? BSB BSB: Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
21 AKJV Others said, These are not the words of him that has a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? BSB BSB: But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication 23 AKJV And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. BSB BSB: and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24 AKJV Then came the Jews round about him, and said to him, How long do you make us to doubt? If you be the Christ, tell us plainly. BSB BSB: So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 AKJV Jesus answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. BSB BSB: “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
26 AKJV But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said to you. BSB BSB: But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
28 AKJV And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. BSB BSB: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 AKJV My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. BSB BSB: My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
31 AKJV Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. BSB BSB: At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
32 AKJV Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me? BSB BSB: But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
33 AKJV The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God. BSB BSB: “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
34 AKJV Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods? BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
35 AKJV If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; BSB BSB: If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
36 AKJV Say you of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God? BSB BSB: then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
37 AKJV If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. BSB BSB: If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
38 AKJV But if I do, though you believe not me, believe the works: that you may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. BSB BSB: But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
39 AKJV Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, BSB BSB: At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
John’s Testimony Confirmed 40 AKJV And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he stayed. BSB BSB: Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
41 AKJV And many resorted to him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spoke of this man were true. BSB BSB: Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
42 AKJV And many believed on him there. BSB BSB: And many in that place believed in Jesus.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.