John 10:1-18: Jesus said, “The truth of the matter is, whoever doesn’t enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.  The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep, the one for whom the keeper opens the gate.  The sheep know the shepherd’s voice; the shepherd calls them by name and leads them out.  Having led them all out of the fold, the shepherd walks in front of them and they follow because they recognize the shepherd’s voice.  They simply won’t follow strangers— they’ll flee from them because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.”  

Even though Jesus used this metaphor with the Pharisees, they didn’t grasp what he was trying to tell them.  Jesus therefore said to them again: “The truth of the matter is, I am the sheep gate.  All who came before me were thieves and marauders whom the sheep didn’t heed.  I am the gate.  Whoever enters through me will be safe— you’ll go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy.  I came that you might have life and have it to the full.  

I am the good shepherd.  A good shepherd would die for the sheep.  The hired hand, who is neither shepherd nor owner of the sheep, catches sight of the wolf coming and runs away, leaving the sheep to be scattered or snatched by the wolf.  That’s because the hired hand works only for pay and has no concern for the sheep.  

I am the good shepherd.  I know my sheep and my sheep know me, in the same way Abba God knows me and I know God— and for these sheep I will lay down my life.  

I have other sheep that don’t belong to this fold— I must lead them too, and they will hear my voice.  And then there will be one flock, one shepherd.  

This is why Abba God loves me— because I lay down my life, only to take it up again.  No one takes my life from me; I lay it down freely.  I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again. This command I received from my Abba.”