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 sheepfold, 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.+ 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, 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.+ 7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.+ 8All that ever 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 out, and find pasture.+ 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.+ 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.+ 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.+ 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.+ 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.+ 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I 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 there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.+ 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.+ 18No man taketh it 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 have I received of my Father.+ 19There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.+ 20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?+ 21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?+