Jesus said to the people, "I am
the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light which gives life."
As Jesus spoke these words many believed in him. Then he said to the
Jews who had believed in him, "If you faithfully do what I say, you
are truly my disciples, and you shall know the truth and the truth
shall set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's
descendants and have never been slaves to any man. What do you mean
by saying, 'You shall be set free'?" Jesus answered them, "Truly, I
tell you, every one who sins is a slave of sin. The slave does not
remain in the household forever, but the Son remains forever. If
therefore the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed.
"I am the Door; if any man enters by me he shall be saved and shall
go in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they
may have it more abundantly.
"I am the Good Shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for
the sheep. But a hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own
the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees the wolf coming,
and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. The hired man
runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care for the
sheep.
"I am the Good Shepherd and know my own, and my own know me, just as
the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life
for the sheep. I have other sheep which do not belong to this fold;
I must lead them also, and they will hear my voice, and they will be
one flock and one shepherd."