John 10:10–18

¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they can have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.

¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired man is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when the hired man sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³The man runs away because he is a hired man. He does not care about the sheep.

¹⁴“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me. ¹⁵They know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give my life for the sheep.

¹⁶“I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

¹⁷“The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will take it back again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father.”