“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who
does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees,
and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired
hand and cares nothing
for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and
my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay
down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I
must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one
flock, one shepherd.
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my
life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of
my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it
up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
