Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
- BSB The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up 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 man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
- John 10:15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
- John 10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
- Heb 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
- John 15:9–10As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
- John 17:4–5I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
- Isa 53:7–12He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
- John 17:24–26Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
- Isa 42:1Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- John 3:25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
- Isa 42:21The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
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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.