7 So Yeshua continued, “Honestly I will tell you that I am the entrance for the sheep. 8 The ones who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the entrance. Anyone who comes in via me will be saved, and will be able to go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief only comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came so that they could live, and live a full life.

11 “I am the good shepherd—the good shepherd gives his own life for the sheep.[fn] 12 The paid worker is not even the shepherd, because the sheep aren’t his own and if he sees a wolf coming he just abandons the sheep and takes off and the wolf scatters the sheep and snatches some— 13 that’s because he’s just a worker and doesn’t really care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep and they know me, 15 [ref]just like the father knows me and I know the father—in fact I will give my life for the sheep. 16 I also have other sheep which are not in this field and it’s appropriate for me to bring those other sheep also, then they’ll be hearing my voice because there’ll be just one flock with one shepherd.

17 The father loves me because I am laying down my life so that I can take it back again. 18 No one is taking it from me, but I’m laying it down myself. I have authority to lay it down, and also authority to take it back again because I received this command from my father.”

19 The Jewish religious leaders were again divided about Yeshua’s teaching 20 with many of them saying, “He’s got a demon,” and, “He’s stark raving mad—why are you all even listening to him!”

21 But others were saying, “He doesn’t sound like he’s demon-possessed. And how could a demon make a blind man see?”