The Shepherd and His Sheep

10 Jesus said, “It is certainly true that when a man enters the sheep pen, he should use the gate. If he climbs in some other way, he is a robber. He is trying to steal the sheep. ² But the man who takes care of the sheep enters through the gate. He is the shepherd. ³ The man who guards the gate opens the gate for the shepherd. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep, using their names, and he leads them out. ⁴ He brings all of his sheep out. Then he goes ahead of them and leads them. The sheep follow him, because they know his voice. ⁵ But sheep will never follow someone they don’t know. They will run away from him, because they don’t know his voice.”

^14-15 “I am the shepherd who cares for the sheep. I know my sheep just as the Father knows me. And my sheep know me just as I know the Father. I give my life for these sheep.

²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all.^[a] No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. ³⁰ The Father and I are one.”