John 10:13

“The reason the hired worker runs away is precisely because he is a hired worker; the hireling has no interest in the sheep other than the benefits he gets from his work watching over them.”  John 10:13 EFP 

Just to make sure his listeners are clear on the concept, Jesus reiterates the marked difference between the hired worker and the Good Shepherd. There is a stark difference! It comes down to ownership.

The hired worker is given a wage to take care of the sheep. He is employed to watch them at night, to keep a watchful eye out on any potential threats, and if needed to defend them from such perils as thieves, predators, and even threatening climate. But given the fact the sheep are not his, the hireling will consider the benefits against the cost when facing a danger that could potentially cost him life or limb. He will weigh the value of his human life against that of the pea-brained wooly-mammals under his care. The lambs will lose most of the time on that set of scales. In the end, the animals are not worth it to him.

But not when the Good Shepherd is concerned. He weighs the worth of his divine life compared to that of his wayward and clueless lambs, and 100 times out of 100 he lays down his life—or better stated, he laid down his life already. In the end, every one of us-- his critters are worth his life and more. Heaven’s scales are obviously different than human scales of worth and return on investment. I am worth it in his eyesl

Thank you, Jesus!