Two Reasons to Trust Jesus, the Good Shepherd – John 10:1-18
10 I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, that man is a thief and a robber. (2) But the man who enters in by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) The watchman opens the gate for him; and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (4) When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. (5) They will not follow a stranger; on the contrary, they will run away from him; because they do not know any stranger’s voice. (6) Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. (7) Therefore Jesus again said to them, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. (8) All those who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not respond to them. (9) I am the gate; if anyone enters in through me he shall be saved, and shall come in and go out, and shall find pasture. (10) The thief only comes in order to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life and have it abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (12) The hired hand is not a shepherd—the sheep do not belong to him. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. (13) He runs away because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. (14) I am the good shepherd; I know mine own sheep and my own sheep know me—(15) just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. (16) I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold; I must also bring them. They, too, shall respond to my voice; there shall be one flock with one shepherd. (17) The Father loves me because I lay down my life—I lay it down in order that I may take it again. (18) No one takes it away from me, I lay it down of 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.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
