Jesus the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)
1 UDB "I am telling you the truth: Those who enter into the sheep pen but do not use the gate are thieves and robbers. 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 UDB The man who enters the pen through the gate is the true shepherd, for he takes care of the sheep. BSB BSB: But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 UDB The hired man who guards the gate when the shepherd is away will open the gate for him when he comes. However, the sheep recognize only the shepherd's voice and only when he calls them by name. Then he leads them outside of the pen to feed them and to give them water. 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 UDB After he has brought out all of his own sheep, he goes in front of them. His sheep are eager to follow him because 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 UDB They will never follow a stranger who calls out to them. They will run away from him because they do not recognize the stranger's voice." BSB BSB: But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
6 UDB Jesus used this illustration from the work of shepherds. Nevertheless, his disciples did not understand what he was telling them. BSB BSB: Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
7 UDB So Jesus spoke to them again, "I am telling you the truth: I am the gate through which all the sheep enter into the pen. BSB BSB: So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 UDB All who came before me were thieves and criminals who stole the sheep, but the sheep did not listen to them and would not follow them. BSB BSB: All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 UDB I myself am like that gate. If anyone enters through the gate and goes into the pen where the sheep are, he will be safe, and he will go out and find good 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 UDB The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and that life will be full to overflowing. 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 UDB Someone pays the hired man money to watch over the sheep. The hired man does not treat the sheep like they belong to him; he is just an employee doing a job. So when he sees a wolf coming to kill the sheep, he does not risk his life. He leaves the sheep and runs away so that it is possible for the wolf to attack the sheep, seizing some of them and scattering others. 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 UDB The hired worker runs away because he is only working for the money. He does not care about what happens to the sheep. BSB BSB: The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
14 UDB I myself am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep, and my own sheep know me, BSB BSB: I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
15 UDB just as I know my Father, and my Father knows me. Because of that, I am willing to die for my sheep. BSB BSB: just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
19 UDB After hearing these words Jesus had been speaking, the Jews were divided in their opinion of him. BSB BSB: Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.
20 UDB Many of them said, "A demon is controlling him and has caused him to become crazy. Do not waste time listening to him!" BSB BSB: Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
21 UDB Others said, "What he is saying is not something a man oppressed by a demon would ever say. No demon can open the eyes of a blind man!" 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 UDB and Jesus was walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon. BSB BSB: and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24 UDB Then the Jews surrounded him and said to him, "How long will you hold us doubting? If you are the Christ, tell us openly." 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 UDB Jesus answered them, "I have told you, but you would not believe me. You know who I am because of the miracles and other things I do by my Father's name and authority. Those things tell you all you need to know about 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 UDB You do not believe in me, because you do not belong to me. You are sheep who belong to another shepherd. BSB BSB: But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
28 UDB I give them eternal life. No one can ever destroy them, and no one will ever be able to steal them away from me. BSB BSB: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 UDB My Father gave them to me; he is greater than anyone, so no one is able to steal them away from him. 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 UDB The enemies of Jesus again picked up stones to throw at him and to put him to death. BSB BSB: At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
32 UDB Jesus said to them, "You have seen me do many good works, things that my Father had told me to do. For which of them are you going to 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 UDB The Jewish opponents replied, "We are wanting to take your life, not because you did any good work but because you, just a man, are insulting God and are making 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 UDB Jesus replied to them, "In the scriptures it is written what God said to the rulers whom he had appointed: 'I have said that you are like gods (with great honor and with power over many).' BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
35 UDB God said that to those leaders when he appointed them. No one objected to that, and nothing that is in scripture can be shown to be false. BSB BSB: If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
36 UDB I am the one whom my Father chose to send here into this world. So why are you angry with me for saying that I am equal with God when 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 UDB If I were not doing the works that my Father told me to do, I would not expect you to believe in me. BSB BSB: If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
38 UDB However, because I am doing these works, place your trust in what these works tell you about me even though you do not trust what I say. If you do that, then you will know and understand that my Father is in me and that I am in my Father." 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 UDB After they heard that, they tried to seize Jesus again, but he got away from them one more time. BSB BSB: At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
John’s Testimony Confirmed 40 UDB Then Jesus went back across to the east side of the Jordan River. He went to the place where John the Baptizer had baptized many people at the beginning of his ministry. Jesus stayed there for several days. BSB BSB: Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
41 UDB Many people came to him. They were saying, "John the Baptizer never performed a miracle, but this man has performed many miracles! Everything that John said about this man is true!" BSB BSB: Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
42 UDB Many people came to trust him; they put their trust in who he was and in what he would do for them. BSB BSB: And many in that place believed in Jesus.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.