Jesus the Good Shepherd
Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24
1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.+ 2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.+ 3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.+ 4When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.+ 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.+ 6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.+ 7Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.+ 8All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.+ 9I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.+ 10The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.+ 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.+ 12He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth [them]:+ 13[he fleeth] because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.+ 14I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,+ 15even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.+ 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.+ 17Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.+ 18No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.+ 19There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words.+ 20And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?+ 21Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?+