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      Luke 2:8-20, John 10:1-18 (English-NIV)

      Luke 2

      8
      And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
      9
      An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
      10
      But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
      11
      Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ [1] the Lord.
      12
      This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
      13
      Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
      14
      "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
      15
      When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
      16
      So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
      17
      When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
      18
      and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
      19
      But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
      20
      The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

      John 10

      1
      "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
      2
      The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
      3
      The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
      4
      When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
      5
      But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."
      6
      Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
      7
      Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
      8
      All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
      9
      I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. [2] He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
      10
      The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
      11
      "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
      12
      The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
      13
      The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
      14
      "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--
      15
      just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep.
      16
      I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
      17
      The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again.
      18
      No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

    1. 11 Or Messiah. "The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew) both mean "the Anointed One"; also in verse 26.
    2. 9 Or kept safe

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