8. All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
9. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.
10. The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.
11. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12. When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them.
13. He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him.
14. “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me,
15. just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep.
16. I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd.
17. "This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again.
18. No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father."
19. There was another division among the Jews because of Jesus’ words.
20. Many of them said, "He has a demon and has lost his mind. Why listen to him?"
21. Others said, "These aren’t the words of someone who has a demon. Can a demon heal the eyes of people who are blind?"
22. The time came for the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter,
23. and Jesus was in the temple, walking in the covered porch named for Solomon.
24. The Jewish opposition circled around him and asked, "How long will you test our patience? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25. Jesus answered, "I have told you, but you don’t believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,
26. but you don’t believe because you don’t belong to my sheep.
27. My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.