牧人的比喻

10 “我确确实实地告诉你们:那不从门进入羊圈,却从别处爬进去的人,是贼、是强盗。 那从门进去的,才是羊的牧人。 看门的就给他开门,羊也听他的声音。他一一提名呼唤自己的羊,带领它们出去。 他把自己所有[a]的羊[b]带出去的时候,走在它们的前面。羊因为认得他的声音,就跟着他去。 羊绝不会跟着陌生人,反而会逃避,因为不认得他的声音。”

耶稣对他们说了这个比喻,他们却不明白他说的是什么。

好牧人

因此耶稣又说:“我确确实实地告诉你们:我就是羊的门。 所有在我以前来的,是贼、是强盗,因此羊没有听从他们。 我就是门。人如果通过我进来,就将得救,而且进进出出,将找到牧草。 10 盗贼来,无非是要偷窃、宰杀、毁灭;而我来是要他们得生命,并且得的更丰盛。

11 “我就是好牧人。好牧人为羊舍弃自己的生命; 12 那雇来的不是牧人,羊也不是自己的,他看见狼来了,撇下羊就逃。这样,狼就抢夺羊,把它们驱散了。 13 [c]这是因为那人是雇来的,并不顾念羊的事。

14 “我就是好牧人。我认识那属于我的,那属于我的也认识我, 15 就像父认识我,我也认识父那样,而且我为羊舍弃自己的生命。 16 我另外有羊,不是这圈里的。我必须把他们带来,他们会听我的声音,并且合成一群,同归一个牧人。 17 父之所以爱我,是因为我舍弃自己的生命,好把它再取回来。 18 没有人夺去我的生命,是我自愿舍弃的。我有权柄舍弃生命,也有权柄再把它取回来。这命令,我已经从我父领受了。”

19 因这些话,犹太人中又产生了分裂。 20 其中有许多人说:“他有鬼魔附身,发疯了!何必听他的呢?” 21 另有些人说:“这些话不是有鬼魔附身的人说的!鬼魔难道能开瞎子的眼睛吗?”

耶稣在献殿节

22 耶路撒冷,当时正是献殿节。那时候是冬天。 23 耶稣正在圣殿的所罗门柱廊上走着, 24 犹太人围住了他,说:“你还让我们猜疑多久呢?如果你是基督,就明确地告诉我们吧!”

25 耶稣回答:“我告诉过你们,你们却不相信。我奉我父的名所行的这些事为我做见证; 26 可是你们不信,因为[d]你们不是我的羊。 27 我的羊听我的声音,我也认识他们,他们也跟着我; 28 并且我赐给他们永恒的生命,他们绝不会灭亡,直到永远。谁也不能把他们从我手中夺走。 29 我父,就是把他们[e]赐给我的那一位,他比一切更大。谁也不能把他们从我[f]父的手中夺走。 30 我与父是一体的。”

想用石头砸死耶稣

31 犹太人又拿起石头要砸死他。 32 耶稣对他们说:“我把很多从父而来的美好之事显给你们看了,你们是为哪一件要用石头砸死我呢?”

33 他们回答:“我们不会为了什么美好之事用石头砸死你,而是为了你说亵渎的话!因为你不过是人,竟然把自己当做神!”

34 耶稣对他们说:“你们的[g]律法上不是写道‘我说你们是神’[h]吗? 35 而经上的话是不能废除的。神既然称那些承受他话语[i]的人为神, 36 那么,难道因为我说了‘我是神的儿子’,你们就对父所分别为圣、并差派到世上来的那一位说‘你说了亵渎的话’吗? 37 如果我没有做我父的事,你们就不该相信我; 38 但如果我做了,你们即使不相信我,也该相信这些事。这样,你们就会知道并体会[j]父在我里面,我也在父[k]里面。” 39 于是他们又试图抓耶稣,他却从他们的手中脱离出来。

约旦河对岸有许多人信耶稣

40 耶稣又前往约旦河对岸,到约翰当初施洗的地方,住在那里。 41 有许多人来到他那里,说:“虽然约翰没有行过神迹,但约翰所说的有关这个人的事,都是真的。” 42 于是有许多人在那里信了耶稣。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰福音 10:4 有古抄本没有“所有”。
  2. 约翰福音 10:4 有古抄本没有“羊”。
  3. 约翰福音 10:13 有古抄本附“那雇来的会逃跑,”。
  4. 约翰福音 10:26 有古抄本附“就像我告诉过你们那样,”。
  5. 约翰福音 10:29 把他们——辅助词语。
  6. 约翰福音 10:29 有古抄本没有“我”。
  7. 约翰福音 10:34 有古抄本没有“你们的”。
  8. 约翰福音 10:34 《诗篇》82:6。
  9. 约翰福音 10:35 话语——或译作“道”。
  10. 约翰福音 10:38 体会——有古抄本作“相信”。
  11. 约翰福音 10:38 父——有古抄本作“他”。

El ejemplo del pastor de ovejas

10 Jesús les dijo:

«Ustedes saben que sólo un ladrón y bandido entra al corral saltando la cerca. En cambio, el pastor de las ovejas entra por la puerta. El que cuida la entrada le abre, y el pastor llama a cada una de sus ovejas por nombre, y ellas reconocen su voz. Luego el pastor las lleva fuera del corral, y cuando ya han salido todas, él va delante de ellas.

»Las ovejas siguen al pastor porque reconocen su voz. Pero no seguirían a un desconocido; más bien huirían de él, pues no reconocerían su voz.»

Jesús les puso el ejemplo anterior, pero ellos no entendieron lo que les quiso decir.

Jesús es el buen pastor

Entonces Jesús les explicó el ejemplo:

«Yo soy la puerta de las ovejas. Todos los que vinieron antes que yo, eran bandidos y ladrones; por eso las ovejas no les hicieron caso. Yo soy la puerta del reino de Dios: cualquiera que entre por esta puerta, se salvará; podrá salir y entrar, y siempre encontrará alimento.

10 »Cuando el ladrón llega, se dedica a robar, matar y destruir. Yo he venido para que todos ustedes tengan vida, y para que la vivan plenamente. 11 Yo soy el buen pastor. El buen pastor está dispuesto a morir por sus ovejas. 12 El que recibe un salario por cuidar a las ovejas, huye cuando ve que se acerca el lobo. Deja a las ovejas solas, porque él no es el pastor y las ovejas no son suyas. Por eso, cuando el lobo llega y ataca a las ovejas, ellas huyen por todos lados. 13 Y es que a ése no le interesan las ovejas, sólo busca el dinero; por eso huye.

14-15 »Así como Dios mi Padre me conoce, yo lo conozco a él; y de igual manera, yo conozco a mis seguidores y ellos me conocen a mí. Yo soy su buen pastor, y ellos son mis ovejas. Así como el buen pastor está dispuesto a morir para salvar a sus ovejas, también yo estoy dispuesto a morir para salvar a mis seguidores.

16 También tengo otros seguidores que ustedes no conocen; son ovejas que traeré de otro corral, y me obedecerán. Así tendré un solo grupo de seguidores, y yo seré su único pastor.

17 »Mi Padre me ama porque estoy dispuesto a entregar mi vida para luego volver a recibirla. 18 Nadie me quita la vida, sino que yo la entrego porque así lo quiero. Tengo poder para entregar mi vida, y tengo poder para volver a recibirla, pues esto es lo que mi Padre me ha ordenado hacer.»

19 Cuando aquellos judíos oyeron esto, se pusieron a discutir, pues unos pensaban una cosa, y otros otra. 20 Muchos decían: «Ese hombre tiene un demonio y está loco. ¿Por qué le hacen caso?» 21 Pero otros decían: «Nadie que tenga un demonio puede hablar así. Además, ningún demonio puede darle la vista a un ciego.»

Los jefes judíos quieren matar a Jesús

22 Era invierno, y Jesús había ido a Jerusalén para participar en la fiesta del Templo. 23 Mientras andaba por los patios del templo, cerca del Portón de Salomón,[a] 24 la gente lo rodeó y le preguntó:

—¿Hasta cuándo nos tendrás con esta duda? Dinos ahora mismo si eres el Mesías.

25 Jesús les respondió:

—Ya les dije quién soy, pero ustedes no me han creído. Yo hago todo con la autoridad y el poder de mi Padre, y eso demuestra quién soy yo. 26 Pero ustedes no me creen, porque no me siguen ni me obedecen. 27 Mis seguidores me conocen, y yo también los conozco a ellos. Son como las ovejas, que reconocen la voz de su pastor, y él las conoce a ellas. Mis seguidores me obedecen, 28 y yo les doy vida eterna; nadie me los quitará. 29 Dios mi Padre me los ha dado; él es más poderoso que todos, y nadie puede quitárselos. 30 Mi Padre y yo somos uno solo.

31 Otra vez, los jefes judíos quisieron apedrear a Jesús, 32 pero él les dijo:

—Ustedes me han visto hacer muchas cosas buenas con el poder que mi Padre me ha dado. A ver, díganme, ¿por cuál de ellas merezco morir?

33 Ellos le respondieron:

—No queremos matarte por lo bueno que hayas hecho, sino por haber ofendido a Dios. Tú no eres más que un hombre, y dices que eres igual a Dios.

34-35 Jesús les dijo:

—¡Pero en la Biblia Dios dice que somos dioses! Y ella siempre dice la verdad. 36 Y si Dios me envió al mundo, ¿por qué dicen ustedes que ofendo a Dios al decir que soy su Hijo? 37 Si no hago lo que mi Padre quiere, entonces no me crean. 38 Pero si yo lo obedezco, crean en lo que hago, aunque no crean en lo que digo. Así, de una vez por todas, sabrán que mi Padre y yo somos uno solo.

39 De nuevo ellos intentaron encarcelar a Jesús. Pero él se les escapó, 40 y se fue de nuevo al otro lado del río Jordán, al lugar donde Juan el Bautista había estado bautizando. Mientras estaba allí, 41 muchas personas fueron a verlo, y decían: «Juan el Bautista no hizo ningún milagro, pero todo lo que dijo de Jesús era verdad.»

42 Y mucha gente de aquel lugar creyó en Jesús.

Footnotes

  1. Juan 10:23 Portón de Salomón: Alrededor del templo de Jerusalén había varios portones semejantes. Este tipo de portón era un lugar público, con grandes columnas, cerrado al exterior del templo, pero abierto hacia el interior. El Portón de Salomón estaba ubicado en el costado este del templo.

The Shepherd and His Sheep

10 Jesus said, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], the person who does not enter the ·sheepfold [sheep pen] by the ·door [gate], but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. [C The sheep represent the people of God; the thief/robber stands for those who would lead them astray; Ps. 23; Ezek. 34.] The one who enters by the ·door [gate] is the shepherd of the sheep. The ·one who guards the door [gatekeeper; watchman] opens it for him. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [compare Num. 27:15–17]. When he brings all his sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger. They will run away from him because they don’t know his voice.” Jesus told the people this ·story [figure of speech; illustration; parable], but they did not understand what ·it meant [he was telling them].

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

So Jesus said again, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], I am the ·door [gate] for the sheep. [C Jesus now refers to himself as the door rather than the shepherd.] All the people who came before me were thieves and robbers [C others who claimed to be the Messiah]. The sheep did not listen to them. I am the ·door [gate], and the person who enters through me will be saved and will be able to come in and go out and find pasture [compare Ps. 118:20]. 10 A thief comes [L only] to steal and kill and destroy, but I came ·to give life [L that they might have life]—life in all its ·fullness [abundance].

11 “I am the good shepherd [contrast Zech. 11:17]. The good shepherd ·gives [lays down] his life for the sheep. 12 The ·worker who is paid to keep the sheep [L hired hand] is different from the shepherd who owns them. When the worker sees a wolf coming, he runs away and leaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf ·attacks [or snatches; seizes] the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man runs away because he is only a ·paid worker [hired hand] and does not really care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my ·sheep [L own], and my ·sheep [L own] know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I ·give [lay down] my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not in this ·flock [fold; pen; C a reference to future Gentile followers of Christ], and I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The Father loves me because I ·give [lay down] my life so that I can ·take [receive] it back again. 18 No one takes it away from me; I ·give [lay down] my own life ·freely [voluntarily; of my own free will]. I have the ·right [power; authority] to ·give [lay down] my life, and I have the ·right [power; authority] to ·take [receive] it back. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”

19 Again ·the leaders did not agree with each other [L there was a division among the Jews] because of these words of Jesus. 20 Many of them said, “·A demon has come into him and made him crazy [L He has a demon and is crazy]. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “A man who is ·crazy with a demon [L demon-possessed] does not say things like this. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus Is Rejected

22 The time came for the ·Feast of Dedication [C also called Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights, recalling the rededication of the Temple in 164 bc] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the Temple in Solomon’s ·Porch [Portico; Colonnade; C on the eastern side of the Temple area; at a later time Christians gathered there to worship; Acts 3:11; 5:12]. 24 ·Some people [The Jewish leaders; L The Jews] gathered around him and said, “How long will you ·make us wonder [keep us in suspense] about you? If you are the ·Christ [Messiah], tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you already, but you did not believe. The ·miracles [L works] I do in my Father’s name ·show who I am [testify/bear witness about me]. 26 But you don’t believe, because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never ·die [perish], and no one can ·steal [snatch] them out of my hand. 29 My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can ·steal [snatch] my sheep out of my Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 Again some of the ·people [Jewish leaders; L Jews] picked up stones to ·kill [L stone] Jesus. 32 But he ·said to [answered] them, “I have ·done [L shown you] many good works from the Father. Which of these good works are you ·killing [L stoning] me for?”

33 ·They [The Jewish leaders; L The Jews] answered him, “We are not ·killing [L stoning] you because of any good work you did, but ·because you speak against God [L for blasphemy]. You are only a human, but you ·say you are the same as God [claim to be God; L make yourself God]!”

34 Jesus answered them, “·It is written [L Is it not written…?] in your law that God said, ‘I said, you are gods’ [Ps. 82:6; C the “gods” here may be Israel’s judges, or the Israelites generally, or angelic powers]. 35 This Scripture called those people gods who received God’s ·message [word], and Scripture ·is always true [L cannot be broken/annulled/set aside]. 36 So why do you say that I ·speak against God [L blaspheme] because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? [C Jesus is not denying he is God, but is making a lesser-to-greater argument; if Scripture calls lesser beings “gods,” why should they object that he—the One God sent—calls himself the Son of God?] I am the one ·God [L the Father] ·chose [consecrated; set apart] and sent into the world. 37 If I don’t do ·what my Father does [L the works of my Father], then don’t believe me. 38 But if I do ·what my Father does [the works of my Father; L them], even though you don’t believe in me, believe ·what I do [L the works]. Then you will ·know [recognize; learn] and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

39 [L So] They tried to ·take [seize; arrest] Jesus again [see 7:30], but he escaped from ·them [L their hands].

40 Then he went back across the Jordan River to the place where John had ·first [or earlier] baptized. Jesus stayed there, 41 and many people came to him and said, “John never did a ·miracle [L sign], but everything John said about this man is true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

The Shepherd Who Gives Up His Life[a]

I Am the Good Shepherd[b]

Chapter 10

The Good Shepherd

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
anyone who does not enter
the sheepfold through the gate
but climbs in some other way
is a thief and a bandit.
The one who enters through the gate
is the shepherd of the flock.
The gatekeeper opens for him,
and the sheep hear his voice.
He calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out.
“When he has brought out all his own,
he goes on ahead of them,
and the sheep follow him
because they know his voice.
However, they will never follow a stranger.
Rather, they will run away from him,
because they do not recognize
the voice of strangers.”

Jesus used this parable to instruct them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. Therefore, Jesus spoke to them again,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All who came before me
were thieves and bandits,
but the sheep did not listen to them.
“I am the gate.
Anyone who enters through me
will be saved.
He will go in and out
and will find pasture.
10 “A thief comes only
to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come
that they may have life,
and have it in abundance.
11 “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd
lays down his life for the sheep.
12 The hired hand,
who is not the shepherd
nor the owner of the sheep,
sees the wolf approaching,
and he leaves the sheep and runs away,
while the wolf catches and scatters them.
13 He runs away
because he is only a hired hand
and he has no concern for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd.
I know my own,
and my own know me,
15 just as the Father knows me
and I know the Father.
And I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 “I have other sheep too
that do not belong to this fold.
I must lead them as well,
and they will hear my voice.
Thus, there will only be one flock,
one shepherd.
17 “This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life
in order to take it up again.
18 No one takes it away from me.
I lay it down of my own free will.
And as I have the power to lay it down,
I have the power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”

19 Once again, these words provoked a division among the Jews. 20 Many of them were saying, “He is possessed and out of his mind. Why should we listen to him?” 21 But others said, “No one possessed by a demon could speak like this. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”[c]

I and the Father Are One

22 Feast of the Dedication.[d] At that time, the feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple along the Portico of Solomon.[e] 24 The Jews gathered around him and asked, “How much longer will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus replied,

“I have told you,
but you do not believe.
The works that I do in my Father’s name
bear witness to me,
26 but you do not believe
because you are not my sheep.
27 “My sheep listen to my voice.
I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life,
and they will never perish.
No one will ever snatch them from my hand.
29 My Father who has given them to me
is greater than all,
and no one can snatch them
out of the Father’s hand.
30 I and the Father are one.”[f]

31 Once again, the Jews picked up rocks to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have performed in your presence many good works from my Father. For which of these works are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered, “We are not going to stone you for any good work you have done, but for blasphemy. Even though you are a man, you are claiming to be God.” 34 Jesus replied,

“Is it not written in your Law,[g]
‘I said: You are gods’?
35 If those to whom
the word of God was addressed
are called ‘gods’
—and Scripture cannot be set aside—
36 how can you say, ‘You blaspheme,’
to the one whom the Father has consecrated
and sent into the world
for saying, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37 “If I am not performing
the works of my Father,
then do not believe me.
38 However, if I am doing them,
then even if you do not believe me,
at least believe my works,
so that you may realize and understand
that the Father is in me
and I am in the Father.”

39 They again tried to seize him, but he escaped from their clutches.

40 The Testimony of John the Baptist.[h] He went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and he remained there. 41 Many people came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many there came to believe in him.

Footnotes

  1. John 10:1 The parable of the good shepherd, the feast of the Dedication, and the raising of Lazarus are three passages that describe who Christ is and what he wants to be for us. The ideas of life and unity dominate in these pages. The desire of Jesus is that we have access to the full reality of life. He gives life to the point of giving up his own; he is the life.
    Another preoccupation impels him: to gather into one all who believe in him. So the work of God is to overcome the forces of death, destruction, and dispersion, forces that disfigure the world and our existence.
  2. John 10:1 The image of the flock and the shepherd occurs frequently in the Bible to describe the relationship of Israel with God, or simply the relations of the people with their leader (this language came spontaneously to any civilization of antiquity). More than once the Prophets denounced as wicked shepherds those in authority who exploited the people or led them astray: kings, princes, priests, prophets of comfort (see Jer 23; Ezek 34; Zec 11:4-17). In the final analysis (they said), God alone is the shepherd to whom the flock belongs and who can properly lead and feed it. They were longing for a devoted shepherd who would act solely in God’s name.
    Jesus now dares to describe himself as this Messiah-shepherd, who comes to deliver human beings from those who enslave them for their own profit or to impose upon them their own convictions. There are no other ways of reaching life and the knowledge of God: Jesus is the “gate”; he is the Shepherd who knows and gathers believers into a single flock. The word “know” signifies a mutual exchange, a reciprocal and radical belonging. This is the main assertion of the passage.
  3. John 10:21 This is a reference to the incident of the man born blind (in the preceding chapter).
  4. John 10:22 In the fourth Gospel, the trial of Jesus takes place throughout the book, and on each occasion the Lord asserts his oneness with the Father in unequivocal terms. Here we have a new disagreement, connected with the feast of the Dedication of the temple, which was celebrated toward the end of December. It commemorated the historical fact that in 165 B.C. Judas Maccabeus wrested the temple from the pagan king who had profaned it by installing an idol in it. It was thus a celebration of the liberation, purification, and restoration of the holy place and of its worship (see 1 Mac 4:36-39; 2 Mac 1:9-18; 10:1-8).
  5. John 10:23 Portico of Solomon: located on the east side of the temple, and thus sheltered against the winds from the wilderness.
  6. John 10:30 I and the Father are one: this is the most solemn declaration of the passage. Jesus expresses his perfect unity with the Father (literally, “one thing”), so that his power is identified with that of the Father. Trinitarian theology takes its start from this verse. For here Jesus affirms in peremptory fashion his identity of operation and will with the Father. This is clear from the violent reaction of the Jews, who seek to stone him because he is guilty of blasphemy.
  7. John 10:34 Your Law: the term Law usually meant the Pentateuch, but it was also used in the sense of the whole Old Testament—as it is in this case. You are gods: these words from Ps 82:6 referred to the judges (as well as other leaders or rulers) of Israel whose tasks were appointed by God (see Ex 22:28; Deut 1:17; 16:18; 2 Chr 19:6).
  8. John 10:40 The testimony of John the Baptist is recalled: the Prophet announced a Messiah whose dignity and power were superhuman (see Jn 1:26-34).

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.(A) The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.(B) The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.(C) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.(D) When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.(E) But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech,(F) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.(G)

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am(H) the gate(I) for the sheep. All who have come before me(J) are thieves and robbers,(K) but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,(L) and have it to the full.(M)

11 “I am(N) the good shepherd.(O) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(P) 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.(Q) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd;(R) I know my sheep(S) and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father(T)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.(U) 16 I have other sheep(V) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock(W) and one shepherd.(X) 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life(Y)—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.(Z) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”(AA)

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided.(AB) 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed(AC) and raving mad.(AD) Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.(AE) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”(AF)

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication[b] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.(AG) 24 The Jews(AH) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”(AI)

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you,(AJ) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,(AK) 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.(AL) 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,(AM) and they follow me.(AN) 28 I give them eternal life,(AO) and they shall never perish;(AP) no one will snatch them out of my hand.(AQ) 29 My Father, who has given them to me,(AR) is greater than all[c];(AS) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(AT)

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,(AU) 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”(AV)

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law,(AW) ‘I have said you are “gods”’[d]?(AX) 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God(AY) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside(AZ) 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart(BA) as his very own(BB) and sent into the world?(BC) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?(BD) 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.(BE) 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”(BF) 39 Again they tried to seize him,(BG) but he escaped their grasp.(BH)

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan(BI) to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign,(BJ) all that John said about this man was true.”(BK) 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.(BL)

Footnotes

  1. John 10:9 Or kept safe
  2. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah
  3. John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all
  4. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6