John 10:10-18
10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill
and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
10:12 The 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.
10:13 Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away.
10:14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me –
10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.
10:16 I 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.
10:17 This is why the Father loves me – because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.
10:18 No 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.”