"I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."  The characteristic that underlines the goodness of Christ as Shepherd is his willingness to lay down his life for our salvation as well as his decision to so to embrace the will of the Father out of love. For the shepherd, each sheep is important. If one goes astray, he endures whatever it takes to find and bring this stray sheep back to the flock. Jesus makes it clear that he is not forced to lay down his life for us. He freely chooses to do so. As he says, "I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father." It is hard for us to grasp and fully appreciate the love of Jesus for each one of us. But he made it clear when he said: "No greater love has one than to lay down his life for his friend." He sees us a friends not enemies, even though we had willfully separated ourselves from him, like the stray sheep. Where and what would we be if Jesus had not laid down his life on the cross for us?