The Life of Jesus

`I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep , and am known by mine,

according as the Father doth know me, and I know the Father, and my life I lay down for the sheep,

and other sheep I have that are not of this fold, these also it behoveth me to bring, and my voice they will hear, and there shall become one flock--one shepherd.

`Because of this doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that again I may take it;

no one doth take it from me, but I lay it down of myself; authority I have to lay it down, and authority I have again to take it; this command I received from my Father.'

Therefore, again, there came a division among the Jews, because of these words,

and many of them said, `He hath a demon, and is mad, why do ye hear him?'

others said, `These sayings are not those of a demoniac; is a demon able blind men's eyes to open?'

And the dedication in Jerusalem came, and it was winter,

and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the porch of Solomon,

the Jews, therefore, came round about him, and said to him, `Till when our soul dost thou hold in suspense? if thou art the Christ, tell us freely.'

Jesus answered them, `I told you, and ye do not believe; the works that I do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me;

but ye do not believe, for ye are not of my sheep,

according as I said to you: My sheep my voice do hear, and I know them, and they follow me,

and life age-during I give to them, and they shall not perish--to the age, and no one shall pluck them out of my hand;

my Father, who hath given to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck out of the hand of my Father;

I and the Father are one.'

Therefore, again, did the Jews take up stones that they may stone him;

Jesus answered them, `Many good works did I shew you from my Father; because of which work of them do ye stone me?'

The Jews answered him, saying, `For a good work we do not stone thee, but for evil speaking, and because thou, being a man, dost make thyself God.'

Jesus answered them, `Is it not having been written in your law: I said, ye are gods?

if them he did call gods unto whom the word of God came, (and the Writing is not able to be broken,)

of him whom the Father did sanctify, and send to the world, do ye say--Thou speakest evil, because I said, Son of God I am?

if I do not the works of my Father, do not believe me;

and if I do, even if me ye may not believe, the works believe, that ye may know and may believe that in me is the Father, and I in Him.'