“The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back 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.
- 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.
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 away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
- John 10:15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. 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 him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
- John 15:9–10Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.
- John 17:4–5I glorified you on the earth. I have accomplished the work which you have given me to do.
- Isa 53:7–12He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn’t open his mouth. As a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he didn’t open his mouth.
- John 17:24–26Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, that they may see my glory, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
- Isa 42:1“Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights — I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations.
- John 3:25There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
- Isa 42:21It pleased Yahweh, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.
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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.