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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 10:17 The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/10-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/3/43_Jhn_10_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 10:17 - Jesus the Good Shepherd" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again." /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad17.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/john/10-16.htm" title="John 10:16">◄</a> John 10:17 <a href="/john/10-18.htm" title="John 10:18">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/john/10.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/john/10.htm">New International Version</a> The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. <a href="/nlt/john/10.htm">New Living Translation</a> “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. <a href="/esv/john/10.htm">English Standard Version</a> For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. <a href="/bsb/john/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. <a href="/blb/john/10.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Because of this, the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. <a href="/kjv/john/10.htm">King James Bible</a> Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. <a href="/nkjv/john/10.htm">New King James Version</a> “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. <a href="/nasb_/john/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it back. <a href="/nasb/john/10.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. <a href="/nasb77/john/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. <a href="/lsb/john/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. <a href="/amp/john/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back. <a href="/csb/john/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. <a href="/hcsb/john/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. <a href="/asv/john/10.htm">American Standard Version</a> Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <a href="/cev/john/10.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so I may receive it back again. <a href="/erv/john/10.htm">English Revised Version</a> Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <a href="/gwt/john/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> The Father loves me because I give my life in order to take it back again. <a href="/gnt/john/10.htm">Good News Translation</a> "The Father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again. <a href="/isv/john/10.htm">International Standard Version</a> This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it back again. <a href="/msb/john/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. <a href="/net/john/10.htm">NET Bible</a> This is why the Father loves me--because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. <a href="/nheb/john/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <a href="/wbt/john/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <a href="/wey/john/10.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For this reason my Father loves me, because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again. <a href="/web/john/10.htm">World English Bible</a> Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Because of this the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that again I may take it; <a href="/blb/john/10.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> Because of this, the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. <a href="/ylt/john/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'Because of this doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that again I may take it; <a href="/slt/john/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Therefore doth the Father love me: because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <a href="/cpdv/john/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For this reason, the Father loves me: because I lay down my life, so that I may take it up again. <a href="/nabre/john/10.htm">New American Bible</a> This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. <a href="/nrsvce/john/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> This is why my Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so that I may take it up again. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/10.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> “Because of this my Father delights in me, because I am laying down my life that I may receive it again.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/10.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> For this reason, my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. <a href="/godbey/john/10.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>Therefore my Father loves Me, because I lay down my soul, that I may take it again.<Fr> <a href="/haweis/john/10.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. <a href="/mace/john/10.htm">Mace New Testament</a> therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life, but I shall reassume it. <a href="/wey/john/10.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For this reason my Father loves me, because I am laying down my life in order to receive it back again. <a href="/worrell/john/10.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>On this account My Father loveth Me, because I lay down My soul, that I may take it again.<Fr> <a href="/worsley/john/10.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>For this doth the Father love me; because I lay down my life: that I may take it again.<Fr> <a href="/parallel/john/10-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=3662" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/10.htm">Jesus the Good Shepherd</a> …16I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17<a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: Dia (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">The reason</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: touto (DPro-ANS) -- This; he, she, it. "></a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3962.htm" title="3962: Patēr (N-NMS) -- Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a father.">Father</a> <a href="/greek/25.htm" title="25: agapa (V-PIA-3S) -- To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love.">loves</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: me (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">Me</a> <a href="/greek/3754.htm" title="3754: hoti (Conj) -- Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.">is that</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: egō (PPro-N1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">I</a> <a href="/greek/5087.htm" title="5087: tithēmi (V-PIA-1S) -- To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.">lay down</a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: mou (PPro-G1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">My</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/5590.htm" title="5590: psychēn (N-AFS) -- From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.">life</a> <a href="/greek/2443.htm" title="2443: hina (Conj) -- In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.">in order</a> <a href="/greek/2983.htm" title="2983: labō (V-ASA-1S) -- (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. ">to take it up</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autēn (PPro-AF3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons."></a> <a href="/greek/3825.htm" title="3825: palin (Adv) -- Probably from the same as pale; anew, i.e. back, once more, or furthermore or on the other hand.">again.</a> 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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a> For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. <a href="/romans/5-8.htm">Romans 5:8</a> But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. <a href="/philippians/2-8.htm">Philippians 2:8-9</a> And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. / Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, <a href="/hebrews/2-9.htm">Hebrews 2:9</a> But 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. <a href="/1_john/3-16.htm">1 John 3:16</a> By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. <a href="/romans/6-4.htm">Romans 6:4</a> We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. <a href="/ephesians/5-2.htm">Ephesians 5:2</a> and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. <a href="/1_peter/3-18.htm">1 Peter 3:18</a> For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, <a href="/revelation/1-18.htm">Revelation 1:18</a> the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades. <a href="/matthew/20-28.htm">Matthew 20:28</a> just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” <a href="/isaiah/53-10.htm">Isaiah 53:10-12</a> Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. / After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. / Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. <a href="/psalms/16-10.htm">Psalm 16:10</a> For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. <a href="/acts/2-24.htm">Acts 2:24</a> But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep Him in its grip. <a href="/romans/8-11.htm">Romans 8:11</a> And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. <a href="/1_corinthians/15-3.htm">1 Corinthians 15:3-4</a> For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, / that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.<a href="/john/3-25.htm">John 3:25</a> Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.<a href="/john/15-9.htm">John 15:9,10</a> As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love… <a href="/john/17-4.htm">John 17:4,5,24-26</a> I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/9-23.htm">Account</a> <a href="/john/8-42.htm">Love</a> <a href="/john/3-35.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/john/9-3.htm">Order</a> <a href="/john/9-23.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/john/9-18.htm">Receive</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/10-19.htm">Account</a> <a href="/john/11-5.htm">Love</a> <a href="/john/12-25.htm">Loves</a> <a href="/john/11-4.htm">Order</a> <a href="/john/11-50.htm">Reason</a> <a href="/john/10-18.htm">Receive</a><div class="vheading2">John 10</div>1. <a href="/john/10-1.htm">Jesus is the door, and the good shepherd.</a> 19. <a href="/john/10-19.htm">Diverse opinions of him.</a> 23. <a href="/john/10-23.htm">He proves by his works that he is Jesus the Son of God;</a> 31. <a href="/john/10-31.htm">escapes the Jews;</a> 39. <a href="/john/10-39.htm">and goes again beyond Jordan, where many believe on him.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/10.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/10.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>The reason the Father loves Me This phrase highlights the unique relationship between Jesus and God the Father. The love of the Father for the Son is a central theme in the Gospel of John, emphasizing the divine nature and mission of Jesus. This love is not based on human merit but on the divine plan of salvation. The Father’s love is rooted in the Son’s obedience and willingness to fulfill His redemptive mission. This echoes the concept of divine love seen in passages like <a href="/john/3-16.htm">John 3:16</a>, where God’s love for the world is demonstrated through the giving of His Son.is that I lay down My life Here, Jesus speaks of His voluntary sacrifice. The laying down of His life is a reference to His impending crucifixion, which is central to the Christian understanding of atonement. This act is not forced upon Him but is a willing submission to the Father’s will, as seen in the Garden of Gethsemane (<a href="/matthew/26-39.htm">Matthew 26:39</a>). The sacrificial nature of Jesus’ death fulfills Old Testament prophecies and typologies, such as the Passover lamb (Exodus 12) and the Suffering Servant in <a href="/isaiah/53.htm">Isaiah 53</a>. It also reflects the cultural understanding of sacrifice in the Jewish tradition, where the shedding of blood was necessary for the atonement of sins.in order to take it up again This phrase points to the resurrection, a cornerstone of Christian faith. Jesus’ authority over life and death is affirmed here, as He not only lays down His life but also has the power to take it up again. This demonstrates His divinity and fulfills His own predictions of His resurrection (<a href="/john/2-19.htm">John 2:19-21</a>). The resurrection is a pivotal event that confirms Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, as prophesied in the Old Testament (<a href="/psalms/16-10.htm">Psalm 16:10</a>) and affirmed in the New Testament (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-3.htm">1 Corinthians 15:3-4</a>). It assures believers of their future resurrection and eternal life, as Jesus is the "firstfruits" of those who have fallen asleep (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm">1 Corinthians 15:20</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking about His sacrificial role and His relationship with God the Father. 2. <a href="/topical/g/god_the_father.htm">God the Father</a> The one who loves Jesus for His obedience and willingness to lay down His life. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_crucifixion_and_resurrection.htm">The Crucifixion and Resurrection</a> The events alluded to in this verse, where Jesus lays down His life and takes it up again.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_love_of_the_father.htm">The Love of the Father</a> God's love for Jesus is rooted in Jesus' obedience and mission. This love is a model for our relationship with God, emphasizing obedience and purpose. <a href="/topical/t/the_voluntary_sacrifice_of_jesus.htm">The Voluntary Sacrifice of Jesus</a> Jesus willingly lays down His life, demonstrating the ultimate act of love and obedience. This challenges us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for our faith. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_resurrection.htm">The Power of Resurrection</a> Jesus' ability to take up His life again signifies His divine authority and power over death, offering believers hope in eternal life. <a href="/topical/o/obedience_and_relationship.htm">Obedience and Relationship</a> The relationship between Jesus and the Father is characterized by love and obedience. Our relationship with God should reflect these qualities. <a href="/topical/p/purposeful_living.htm">Purposeful Living</a> Jesus lived with a clear purpose, which was to fulfill the Father's will. We are called to live purposefully, aligning our lives with God's will.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_10.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 10</a> <a href="/q/how_can_one_die_and_revive_scientifically.htm">In John 10:17–18, how is it scientifically possible for someone to lay down their life and then take it up again? </a> <a href="/q/how_to_achieve_salvation.htm">What are the steps to achieve salvation?</a> <a href="/q/what_does_christ's_supremacy_signify.htm">What does Christ's supremacy signify?</a> <a href="/q/did_jesus_atone_for_humanity's_sins.htm">Did Jesus atone for humanity's sins?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/10.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) Therefore doth my Father love me . . . For the meaning of this difficult verse, comp. Notes on <a href="/john/5-17.htm" title="But Jesus answered them, My Father works till now, and I work.">John 5:17</a> et seq., and on <a href="/context/philippians/2-8.htm" title="And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.">Philippians 2:8-9</a>. The thought is that in the relation between the Father and the human nature of Christ, the reason of the Father's love is based upon the self-devotion of the Son. He who so loved the world that he gave His only-begotten Son to die for it, loves the Son who of His own will gives Himself to die. It is, if we might presume so to speak, as though the salvation of mankind had called forth a new relation of love between the Father and the Son.That I might take it again.--This is given as part of the reason of the Father's love; and the words admit of no other construction. At first sight they seem to us paradoxical, beyond and against common feeling. In acts of sacrifice, the fact that that which is lost will be certainly regained, seems to us to take away all value from the act; but here the fact that Christ will lay down His life, is stated to be in order that He may take it again; and this is the foundation of the Father's love! The key to the meaning is in the truth that for Christ the taking again of human life is itself a further sacrifice, and that this is necessary for the completion of the Great Shepherd's work. The scattered sheep during the whole of the world's existence are to be gathered in by Him whose continued union with human nature makes Him at once the Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep, and the Door by whom we ever have access to the Father.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 17. - Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. The διὰ τοῦτο points to the whole of the previous statement, and ὅτι to a more complete exposition of the precise point in it on which the Divine Father's love (ἀγαπή) rests. The "I" and "me" refer to the incarnate Son, i.e. to the Divine-human Personality of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Father loveth me, because, not merely that I lay down my life, for such might be the consequence of helplessness in the presence of victorious and desperate foes. The love which merely "laid down life" would be a Buddha-like self-sacrifice, producing certain moral effects upon the minds of the onlookers, and revealing a large and loving sense of the need of others. Yet in such expression of his sacrificial love he would have relinquished his undertaking. There would have been no more that he could do for his flock, this Shepherd-functions would, in the consummating act, cease, he would be a beautiful Memory, not a living Energy; a glorious Example, not the Author of eternal salvation. He would cease to be the great Shepherd of the sheep. Now the Father's love contemplated more than this, viz. the Lord's own purpose to take up again that life which he was prepared voluntarily to lay down for the sheep. Thus he would indeed die, that he might be more of a Shepherd to them than he had ever been before. How otherwise would he personally bring the other sheep into his flock, or be known of them, as the Father was known by him? Christ declares that after his death he would still exercise royal rights, be as much a Divine-human Personality as ever. Christ, as a sinless Man, the sinless One, might indeed, after the victory over the tempter in the wilderness, or from the Mount of Transfiguration, have returned to the spiritual world without accomplishing an exodus on Golgotha, but he chose, he willed, to lay down his life. Having done this much, he might have joined the great majority, and been their Head and Chief, and left his work to be commented on by others. But such a consummation would have fallen far short of the true and sufficing object of the Father's love. Christ declares that the very end of his death was his resurrection from death. In retaking his life, he is able to continue, on perfectly different terms, the shepherding of his people he becomes in the highest sense, the great Shepherd, the good Shepherd, the archetypal, and the veritable Shepherd of the flock of God. <a href="/commentaries/john/10-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>The reason Διὰ (Dia) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. the ὁ (ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Father Πατὴρ (Patēr) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3962.htm">Strong's 3962: </a> Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'. loves ἀγαπᾷ (agapa) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_25.htm">Strong's 25: </a> To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. Perhaps from agan; to love. Me με (me) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. [is] that ὅτι (hoti) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_3754.htm">Strong's 3754: </a> Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because. I ἐγὼ (egō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. lay down τίθημι (tithēmi) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5087.htm">Strong's 5087: </a> To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place. My μου (mou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. life ψυχήν (psychēn) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5590.htm">Strong's 5590: </a> From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely. in order ἵνα (hina) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2443.htm">Strong's 2443: </a> In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. to take it up λάβω (labō) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2983.htm">Strong's 2983: </a> (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of. again. πάλιν (palin) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3825.htm">Strong's 3825: </a> Probably from the same as pale; anew, i.e. back, once more, or furthermore or on the other hand. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/10-17.htm">John 10:17 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/10-17.htm">NT Gospels: John 10:17 Therefore the Father loves me because (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/10-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 10:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 10:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/10-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 10:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 10:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>