^11 [a]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd ^[b]lays down His [own] life for the sheep.^{(A) 12} But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The man runs because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep. ¹⁴ I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]—

⁸ Jesus Christ is [eternally changeless, always] the same yesterday and today and forever.