How to Know You Belong to the Good Shepherd – John 10:7-42
10 (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.
(19) Because of these words a division once again arose among the Jews. (20) Many of them said, He is demon-possessed and is insane; why listen to him? (21) Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?
(22) It was the time of the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. (23) It was winter; and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade (24) The Jews gathered around him, saying, How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. (25) Jesus answered them, I told you, but you do not believe. The works that I am performing in my Father’s name, these works testify about me; (26) but you do not believe, because you are not numbered among my sheep. (27) My sheep respond to my voice; I know them and they follow me. (28) I give them eternal life—they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. (29) My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (30) I and the Father are one.
(31) Again the Jews picked up stones, intending to stone him. (32) Jesus asked them, I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of those works are you seeking to stone me? (33) The Jews answered him, We are not seeking to stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy; because you, being a man, claim to be God. (34) Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods? (35) If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be set aside—(36) how can you say to the one whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, You are blaspheming; because I said, I am the Son of God? (37) If I do not do the works of my Father, do not believe me. (38) But if I am doing those works, even though you do not believe me, believe the works; so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
(39) Again they tried to seize him, but he went away out of their grasp. (40) He went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days of his ministry; and there he remained. (41) Many people came to him and were saying, It is true that John performed no sign; but everything he said about this man was true. (42) And many believed in him there.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
