The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
- KJV Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
- NKJV “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
- NASB For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back.
- NLT “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Father loves the Son because He lays down His life in order to take it up again. Jesus' atoning death and resurrection are bound together in the Father's purpose.
Overview
Jesus' obedience unto death draws the Father's love, not because the love was absent before but because His sacrifice perfectly accomplishes the divine plan. The phrase 'take it again' anticipates the resurrection. The cross and empty tomb are one saving work willingly undertaken.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- John 10:18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
- John 10:15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
- John 10:11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
- Heb 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
- John 15:9–10As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
- John 17:4–5I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
- Isa 53:7–12He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
- John 17:24–26Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
- Isa 42:1“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
- John 3:25Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
- Isa 42:21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 10:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.