John 10:11-27

“I am the good shepherd.   The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them   and runs away when he sees a wolf   coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father.   I lay down my life   for the sheep. But I have other sheep   that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.   This is why the Father loves me,   because I lay down my life   so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”   Again the Jews were divided  because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon  and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him? ” Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone who is demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind? ”  Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade.  The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?  If you are the Messiah,  tell us plainly.”  , “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works   that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.   , My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.