154. A Word Concerning the Good Shepherd. Jn. 10:1–21

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in by another way, is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. But they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.

This parable Jesus spoke to them; but they did not understand what the things were that he was saying to them. So Jesus said to them again: “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But he who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, to whom the sheep do not belong, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. And the hireling flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own, and my own know me. As the Father knows me, so I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring those also, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again. This commandment I received from my Father.

There was a division again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said: “He is possessed by a demon and is out of his mind; why listen to him?” Others said: “These are not the words of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”