John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Cross-references
John 10:14 repeats 'I am the good shepherd' and adds intimate knowledge of His sheep — expanding the metaphor here.
John 10:16 adds that the good shepherd will gather other sheep, extending the flock beyond Israel.
John 10:15 repeats 'I lay down my life for the sheep'—same phrase, reinforcing the sacrificial theme.
John 10:2 introduces the shepherd entering by the door; verse 11 expands on his sacrificial role.
John 19:30 describes Jesus giving up his spirit—the precise act of laying down his life promised here.
John 15:13 identifies laying down life as the greatest love—same principle applied to friends, here to sheep.
John 21:16 commissions Peter to tend Jesus' sheep, connecting the shepherd metaphor to pastoral leadership.
In 1 Peter 2:24, Christ bore our sins on the cross — the same atoning death as the good shepherd laying down his life.
In Ephesians 5:2, Christ's self-giving as a fragrant offering parallels the good shepherd laying down his life — same sacrificial love.
In Titus 2:14, Christ gave himself to redeem and purify a people — echoes the shepherd's self-sacrifice for the sheep.
Hebrews 13:20 calls Jesus 'the great shepherd' raised from the dead by blood, directly linking to his voluntary death for the sheep.
Zechariah 13:7 prophesies the shepherd being struck, which Jesus fulfills as the good shepherd who lays down his life, causing the sheep to scatter.
Micah 5:4 prophesies the ruler from Bethlehem who will shepherd his flock — Jesus is that shepherd.
Ezekiel 37:24 says David shall be king and one shepherd — Jesus fulfills this as the good shepherd.
1 Peter 2:25 describes believers as straying sheep who return to the Shepherd, echoing Jesus' role as the good shepherd laying down his life.
Ezekiel 34:23 promises one shepherd, my servant David — Jesus is that promised Davidic shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:12 describes God seeking His scattered sheep — Jesus embodies that shepherd seeking and laying down life.
Isaiah 53:6 prophesies the Lord laying our iniquity on the suffering servant, who as the good shepherd bears the sins of the sheep.
Isaiah 40:11 prophesies the Lord tending His flock like a shepherd — Jesus fulfills this as the good shepherd.
Psalm 80:1 calls God the Shepherd of Israel — Jesus identifies with that same Shepherd role.
Psalm 23:1 declares 'The LORD is my shepherd' — Jesus applies this divine title to Himself as the good shepherd.
In Rev 7:17, the Lamb is the Shepherd leading and providing — fulfilling the Good Shepherd’s role in the new creation.
In 1 Thess 5:10, Christ 'died for us' — the very essence of the Good Shepherd laying down his life for the sheep.
In 2 Samuel 5:2, David is called to shepherd Israel as their ruler — a type of Christ the good shepherd.
In Gal 2:20, Paul recalls Christ 'who loved me and gave himself for me' — directly echoing the Good Shepherd's personal sacrifice.
In Gal 1:4, Christ 'gave himself for our sins' — the same self-giving act as the Good Shepherd laying down his life.
In 2 Cor 12:15, Paul’s willingness to spend himself for the Corinthians mirrors the Good Shepherd’s self-sacrifice for the sheep.
Matthew 27:50 records Jesus yielding his spirit—the actual event that fulfills his promise here to lay down his life.
Ezekiel 34:31 identifies God as shepherd of His people; Jesus claims that identity as the good shepherd who lays down his life.
In 1 Chronicles 21:17, David offers himself to bear punishment for his people — a clear type of the good shepherd laying down his life.
1 Peter 5:4 calls Jesus the 'chief Shepherd' who will appear, linking to his current role as good shepherd.
Matthew 18:12 shows a shepherd seeking one lost sheep—same imagery but focused on rescue, while here Jesus emphasizes sacrifice.