Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

He who enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. One who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens for him; his sheep hear his voice and recognize it as their own. He calls them by name and leads them out.

When he puts forth his own sheep, they follow him because they know his voice and trust him completely. They will not be misled by a stranger's voice, but will flee from it, unfamiliar with its sound. Jesus told this parable to the people, but they didn't understand what he was trying to convey.

Jesus said again, "I assure you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but my sheep did not listen to them." He declared, "I am the door – anyone who enters through me will be saved, and they'll come and go freely, finding pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come to give life, and more than that, a rich and satisfying life."

"I am the good shepherd," Jesus said. "The kind of shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep." A hired hand would flee in terror when he sees the wolf coming, abandoning the flock and leaving them vulnerable. The wolf seizes this opportunity to attack and scatter the sheep.

But not me – I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep by name, and they know me too. Just as the Father knows me, so I know him, and I'm willing to lay down my life for the sheep. There are other sheep that belong to me, but aren't part of this group; I must bring them into the fold, and they'll hear my voice too – then there will be one flock with one shepherd.

"My Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life," Jesus said. "And I have the power to take it back again." No one can take my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord. I have been given the authority both to lay down my life and to take it up again – this command has come from my Father.

The people were divided in their opinions about Jesus, some saying he was possessed by a demon and others arguing that his words made sense. "Can someone who is demon-possessed open blind eyes?" they asked. It was winter during the festival of dedication, and Jesus walked around Solomon's Portico within the temple.

The Jews gathered around him and demanded, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you're the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I've already told you – but you didn't believe. My works, done in my Father's name, are proof of who I am."

You don't believe because you're not part of my flock," Jesus said. "That's what I've been saying all along – my sheep hear my voice and follow me." And I give them eternal life; they'll never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand.

My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else. No one can take them away from him either. I and the Father are united in purpose – we're as one.

The Jews took up stones again to stone Jesus, accusing him of blasphemy because he claimed to be God. But Jesus countered, "Is it not written that you are gods?" If those who received God's message were called gods, then why can't I say I am the Son of God? They responded, "You're blaspheming – a man making himself out to be God!"

Jesus said, "If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me. But if I do these things, even though you don't believe in me, at least believe what you see." They tried again to arrest him, but Jesus slipped away and escaped their grasp.

He went back across the Jordan River to a place where John had first baptized people, and he stayed there for a while. Many people came to see him, saying, "John didn't perform any miracles, but everything he said about this man was true." As a result, many of them believed in Jesus.