10 You are not of Israel, but of The Dark Ones. You would say this man's blindness is punishment because his parents sinned or, because HE sinned. But God does not punish the children of sinners. They destroy their own flesh by their ignorance.
11 This man's blindness was a gift from God. He has heard the birds sing as no other can. He has heard the bubbling brook speak with wisdom. He has heard the wind carrying the songs of angels.
12 His fingers have felt the softness of his newborn child. God has given him more than you can ever understand. 13 The sight that has been given him will only add a small measure to his joy.
14 Think how glorious it will be for him, and how sad it is for you, for because of your sin you have to shut God out. Nothing will EVER let Him in again!"
15 Again they took up stones and would have stoned Him, but a cry came from Heaven so loud that they cast down the stones and covered their ears.
16 Jesus went from among them, and outside the temple began to teach.
17 "Truly, truly I say unto you, he that enters in not by the door that is in the gate, but climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber come to steal what is in the sheepfold.
18 But he that enters by the gate is the shepherd that comes to watch over the sheep. To him the gateman opens and the sheep, hearing his voice, comes to him by name.
19 He leads them out, and they follow him gladly, for they know his scent, and they know his voice.
20 But a stranger's scent and a stranger's voice they do not know and from him they will flee."
21 The apostles did not understand this parable. Jesus explained to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door that keeps safe the sheep. All that come before me I know who are the robbers and the thieves, and the sheep do not hear them.
22 I am the door. By me if any man enter in he shall be saved, shall go in and out and find peace.
23 The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I come that they might have life and have it more abundantly.
24 I am the good shepherd that gives His life for His sheep.
25 I am not the hired man who will desert the sheep when the wolf or the bear or the lion would ravish them.
26 I am not the hired man who would flee to save himself and leave the sheep.
27 I am the good shepherd. I know mine and they know me, as The Father knows me, and even as I know The Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
28 Those sheep that are not of my fold, they, also, shall hear my voice and shall be comforted by me.
29 They shall say 'This shepherd is our friend!' For that is how great my Father loves me because I lay down my life that I might take it up again.
30 Let no man think he takes it from me. I lay it down of my own accord. For if I did not, no man could take it from me. This is the commandment I have received from my Father."
31 And the Jews believed in Jesus, while the leaders and a small number rebuked Him. One Pharisee came unto Jesus crying, "How long will you make us doubt? If you be The Christ tell us plainly."
32 Jesus rebuked him. "I told you and you believed me not! The works I do I do in my Father's Name and they bear witness to me. But you will not believe because you are sinners, as I have said.
33 My Father, who has given them to me, is the greatest of all, and no man may take away from me what The Father has given me, for I and my Father are one."
34 The Jews again picked up stones, but the heat of them made them cast them down!
35 "Would you stone me," Christ cried, "because I do good works on the Sabbath, because I do my Father's wiill?"
36 "For these things not would we stone you," the Jews answered, "but for blasphemy, that we would stone you. For no man can make himself God."
37 Jesus rebuked them, saying, "Is it not written in your Law 'I say you are gods'? If He called them gods unto who the Word Of God comes, and The Scripture cannot be broken, say you of Him, who The Lord has sanctified and sent into the world you blasphemy because I say I am The Son Of God?
38 Yet all men that believe in Him are the sons of God. If I do not do the Works of My Father believe me not, but if I do do the things that it was written by the prophets, that I would do, then know that The Father is in me, and I in Him."
39 Therefore, The Jews went to seize Him, but not one man could raise his hands against Him. He walked from among them, and went out to preach afar.
40 Now, as Jesus was leaving the city a rich man came unto Him saying, "Lord, what must I do to folllow after you?"
41 Jesus stopped and said, "As you have no children, go home. Sell all your property. Give all you have to the poor, save one suit of clothes and one cloak for you and your wife.
42 Then, come and follow me, and I will make you glorious in the sight of God."
43 The man trembled and went away, for he was greatly rich and could not part with his riches.
44 Jesus bowed His head in sorrow, calling His apostles around Him. "You have seen and heard," He told them. "Learn well. It is easier for a camel to climb through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter into Heaven."
45 They continued on. As Jesus spoke one day a certain Lawyer stood up to tempt Him, saying, "Rabbi, what must I do to inherit Eternal Life?"
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