John, Chapter 10

Parable time: Anyone who enters your sheepfold by climbing over the fence is a thief, but people who go through the gate are shepherds. It's a foolproof system! Actually, there are other ways to figure out if a so-called shepherd is legit or not: if he says bah ram ewe and the sheep respond, he's good, but they won't respond to a stranger. The people must look confused, because nobody likes riddles. So Jesus explains: everyone that came before him was a thief, he's the gate. He also says I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (v. 11), even though he literally just said he was a gate. He explains further that hired shepherds will flee when they see a wolf, but not him because he's got a permanent contract. He also says that his death will be voluntary, and he has the power to resurrect himself as well. This causes the Jews to wonder if he's not crazy.

Now it's a feast day and Jesus is sitting on a porch at the temple. Some Jews approach him and ask him outright if he's the Messiah. He says he did tell them, but they aren't his sheep, so they didn't listen. He also says he's god. They do not like that, so they pick up stones. Jesus points out that all of his good works are divine, so which one, exactly, are they stoning him for? They say it isn't for his good works, it's for claiming divinity. Jesus points out that the book of Psalms says Ye are gods (v. 34). He also tells them they don't have to believe in him, but they ought to believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him (v. 38). 


This proves the last straw, and the Jews try to capture him, but he runs off to the place on the River Jordan where he first met John the Baptist, where he converts more people.