The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
4 sermons cite this verse
… That's why I'm the good shepherd, says Jesus. And then he says, I lay down my life for the sheep. I want you to take a moment and notice how often he says it in this passage. Verse 11, he lays down his life for the sheep. Verse 15 concludes, I lay down my life for the sheep. Verse 17, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. Verse 18, twice, I lay it down. I lay it down. Now, that's not just a busy observation. Jesus is emphasizing that he is good because he voluntarily lays himself down. Biblical Christianity has sharpened its tools for centuries on the substitutionary work of Christ. In other words, when Jesus Christ hung on the cross, he hung as a substitute for the sinner. He hung in our place, on our behalf. You and I deserved death because of sin. He bore. He carried. He withstood. He took our sins and in our place he died. That's called the substitutionary atonement. …
so grateful for the honor of bringing these messages to you after all these decades of preaching i've never quite gotten over the fact that you would give me some of your minutes some of your time and your trust. And I pledge to be a good steward of both. Gracious Lord. Gracious Lord. as we open your word, would you open our hearts? Would you deposit truth in the deepest recesses of our souls? Would you defy the lies, silence the voices that are not from you? forgive our speaker you know his sins are many and grant that we see Jesus just Jesus through Jesus we pray and all who agreed with the prayer said well Joe was ticked off at Jesus I've never seen anyone so angry at Christ I've seen few people so angry, but never anyone is angry at Christ. He was red-faced, clenched fists, spit-spewing, angry. Prior to the encounter, I'd never met Joe. A mutual friend asked if I could intervene in what he described as a crisis of faith. …
… and He gives us our marching order. Then in verse 17 He said, "'Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again.'" Again, He refers to that temple that He's going to rebuild in three days after it's destroyed. He said, I can lay down my life. I can die, but I can get back up again. Now, who in the world understood the words that he was saying here at the time that he was saying it? But who would not, who was there, not think of those things on the resurrection Sunday? I have the power to lay it down. I have the power to take it again, and this command I have received from my Father." Now we are told elsewhere that Jesus is the bishop and the shepherd of our souls. …
… And they also will hear My voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I may take it again." Now, in conclusion, hear these words. No one takes it from me. but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down. I have power to take it again. And this command I have received from my Father. He warns those whom He knows are already busily engaged in plotting His death. And what He's saying is, you can't have it. You can't take my life from Me. I can give my life for my sheep, but you have no power over Me unless I give it to you. And that He demonstrates. Remember how He was mocked on the cross. You saved others. He saved others. Himself He cannot save. Why don't you call upon the legions of angels that are supposedly at your beck and call to come and save you from the cross. …