April 20-21, 2024

[Jesus said:] 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for

the sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep,

sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches

them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not

care for the sheep. 14I 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 belong to this fold. I must bring them

also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it

up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have

power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this

command from my Father.”