The Good Shepherd

7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am s the door of the sheep. t 8 All who came before Me u are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal v and to kill and to destroy. w I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

11 “I am the good shepherd. x The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. y 12 The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them z and runs away when he sees a wolf a coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired man and doesn’t care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. b I lay down My life c for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep d that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. e 17 This is why the Father loves Me, f because I am laying down My life g so I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father.” h