John 10: The Good Shepherd

Jesus says He is the door of the sheep and the Good Shepherd, who knows His sheep, calls them by name, and lays down His life for them. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him, and no one can snatch them out of His hand. When He says, I and the Father are one, some try to stone Him, but many believe.

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Read John 10

World English Bible · 42 verses

¹ “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ I and the Father are one.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² Many believed in him there.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

John 10 · Preschool

Jesus Is My Shepherd

Name Date

Color the picture. Point to the shepherd and the sheep.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Ask: What does a shepherd do? (Loves his sheep!)

Open Grade 4 on its own page

John 10 · Grade 4

The Shepherd Who Gives His Life

Name Date

Read and Think

In Bible times, shepherds kept their sheep in a pen at night. In the morning the shepherd called them, and they followed his voice. Jesus used this picture. He is the door of the sheep, the only way in. Those who enter through Him are saved and find pasture. Thieves come to steal and destroy, but Jesus came so His sheep may have life, and have it abundantly.

Then Jesus said, I am the good shepherd. A hired hand cares about pay, not the sheep, and runs when the wolf comes. But Jesus knows His sheep, and they know Him. He would lay down His life for them by His own choice, and He would take it up again. He also has other sheep, not of this fold, and He will bring them in too. That includes Gentiles, people from every nation.

Some people asked Jesus to tell them plainly if He was the Christ. He said His works showed it, but they did not believe because they were not His sheep. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. He gives them eternal life, and no one can snatch them out of His hand or the Father's hand. When He said He and the Father are one, they tried to stone Him. He went away across the Jordan, and many believed there.

Show What You Know

What does it mean that Jesus is the door?
What is the difference between the hired hand and the good shepherd?
Who are the other sheep not of this fold?
Why are Jesus' sheep safe?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

sheepwolflifevoiceshepherd

In Bible times, shepherds kept their in a pen at night.
In the morning the shepherd called them, and they followed his .
Thieves come to steal and destroy, but Jesus came so His sheep may have , and have it abundantly.
Then Jesus said, I am the good .
A hired hand cares about pay, not the sheep, and runs when the comes.

Think About It

Jesus knows His sheep by name. How does it feel to know Jesus knows you personally?
How can you learn to recognize Jesus' voice?

Memory Verse

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you thank Jesus for loving you so much?
Many believed because what John said about Jesus was true. How can you tell the truth about Jesus?
Jesus said He came so His sheep could have life to the full. What does a full life with Jesus look like for you?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

John 10 · Grade 5

No One Will Snatch Them

Name Date

Read and Think

Shepherding was a familiar picture in Israel. God called Himself the Shepherd of His people in Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34, and He promised a shepherd from David's line. In John 10, Jesus said He fulfills those promises. He is the door of the sheepfold. Whoever enters through Him will be saved and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

He also said, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. This was voluntary. No one would take His life from Him. He would lay it down by His own authority and take it up again, as the Father commanded. Jesus knows His own as the Father knows Him. He would also gather other sheep, not of this fold, into one flock with one shepherd.

At the Feast of Dedication in winter, the leaders surrounded Him and demanded a plain answer. Jesus said His works in the Father's name testify about Him. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. Then He said, I and the Father are one. His enemies took up stones, calling this blasphemy. Jesus pointed them to His works. They tried to seize Him, but He escaped. Across the Jordan, many believed in Him.

Show What You Know

What Old Testament passages call God the Shepherd of His people?
What does it mean that Jesus laid down His life voluntarily?
Who will be gathered into one flock?
What three promises does Jesus make to His sheep in verse 28?
Why did His enemies take up stones?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

lifehandshepherdvoicesheep

Jesus came that they may have , and may have it abundantly.
He also said, I am the good .
The good shepherd lays down his life for the .
My sheep hear my , and I know them, and they follow me.
They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my .

Think About It

Psalm 23 and John 10 both describe a shepherd. Which promise about Jesus, the Good Shepherd, comforts you most?
No one can snatch Jesus' sheep from His hand. How does this help when you feel afraid or alone?

Memory Verse

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

John 10:27 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you listen for Jesus' voice?
How does Jesus' sacrifice shape how you love others?
Jesus said He came that we may have life to the full. What does a full life with Jesus look like?

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John 10: The Good Shepherd

Read John 10

Worksheets

Jesus Is My Shepherd

Prayer

Take It Home

The Good Shepherd

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

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Prayer

Take It Home

The Good Shepherd

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

My Sheep Hear My Voice

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

I Know My Sheep

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

The Shepherd Who Gives His Life

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

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Prayer

Take It Home

No One Will Snatch Them

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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