THE GOOD SHEPHERD AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Soon afterward Jesus gave to the people in Jerusalem the parable or story of “The Good Shepherd.”

“Verily, verily (that is, ’in truth, in truth’), I say to you, if any one does not go into the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, it is a sign that he is a thief and a robber.  But the one who comes in by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.  The porter opens the door to him, and the sheep know him, and listen to his call, for he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out to the pasture-field.  And when he has led out his sheep, he goes in front of them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  The sheep will not follow a stranger, for they do not know the stranger’s voice.”

The people did not understand what all this meant, and as Jesus explained it to them, he said:  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door that leads to the sheepfold.  If any man comes to the sheep in any other way than through me and in my name, he is a thief and a robber; but those who are the true sheep will not hear such.  I am the door; if any man goes into the fold through me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.

“The thief comes to the fold that he may steal and rob the sheep, and kill them; but I came to the fold that they may have life, and may have all that they need.  I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd will give up his own life to save his sheep; and I will give up my life that my sheep may be saved.

“I am the good shepherd; and just as a true shepherd knows all the sheep in his fold, so I know my own, and my own know me, even as I know the Father, and the Father knows me; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must lead; and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

The Jews could not understand these words of Jesus; but they became very angry with him, because he spoke of God as his Father.  They took up stones to throw them at him, and tried to seize him, intending to kill him.  But Jesus escaped from their hands, and went away to the land beyond Jordan, at the place called “Bethabara,” or “Bethany beyond Jordan,” the same place where he had been baptized by John the Baptist more than two years before.  From this place Jesus wished to go out through the land in the east of the Jordan, a land which is called “Perea,” a word that means “beyond.”  But before going out through this land, Jesus sent out seventy chosen men from among his followers to go to all the villages, and to make the people ready for his own coming afterward.  He gave to these seventy the same commands that he had given to the twelve disciples when he sent them through Galilee, and sent them out in pairs, two men to travel and to preach together.  He said: 

“I send you forth as lambs among wolves.  Carry no purse, no bag for food, no shoes except those that you are wearing.  Do not stop to talk with people by the way; but go through the towns and villages, healing the sick, and preaching to the people, ‘The kingdom of God is coming,’ He that hears you, hears me; and he that refuses you, refuses me; and he that will not hear me, will not hear him that sent me.”