John 10:11-18

11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

12The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them.

13Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away.

14“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me –

15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.

18No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”