John 15:13 kjv
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 nkjv
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
John 15:13 niv
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
John 15:13 esv
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 nlt
There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.
John 15 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||---|---|---|| Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | Christ's death as proof of God's love. || 1 John 3:16 | By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. | We understand love by Christ's example and are called to emulate it. || Eph 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. | Christ's sacrificial love as our example. || Gal 2:20 | I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. | Christ's personal, self-giving love. || Phil 2:8 | And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Jesus' obedience and ultimate self-humiliation in death. || Heb 9:14 | How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience... | Christ's perfect, purifying sacrifice. || 1 Pet 2:21 | For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. | Christ's suffering provides a model for believers. || Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Jesus' mission includes giving His life as atonement. || John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son... | The breadth of God's love that led to Jesus' sacrifice. || John 10:11 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. | Jesus as the protective shepherd, giving His life. || John 15:12 | This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. | Immediate preceding context; calls disciples to love in a Christ-like way. || Luke 9:23-24 | If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. | Cost of discipleship; principle of losing one's life to gain it. || Matt 16:24-25 | Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." | Discipleship involves self-denial and sacrificial commitment. || Rom 8:37 | No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. | God's overwhelming love empowering believers. || 1 John 4:10 | In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. | God's initiating love shown in sending His Son for propitiation. || Titus 2:14 | Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. | Jesus' self-giving purpose: redemption and purification. || Isaiah 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion with the great...because he poured out his soul to death... | Prophecy of the Suffering Servant giving His life. || 2 Cor 5:14-15 | For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died... | Christ's death for all motivates believers. || Rev 1:5 | And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. | Christ's love frees through His blood. || John 13:1 | Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. | The beginning of the discourse emphasizing Jesus' complete love. |
John 15 verses
John 15 13 Meaning
John 15:13 reveals the highest expression of love: the sacrificial act of giving one's life for others. Jesus speaks these words within His Farewell Discourse, emphasizing that no greater love exists than that which prompts someone to lay down their life for their friends. This verse directly foreshadows Jesus' own impending crucifixion, portraying His death as the ultimate demonstration of divine, selfless love for humanity, whom He calls "friends." It sets the standard for profound love and models the depth of God's love for His people.
John 15 13 Context
John 15:13 is central to Jesus' farewell discourse (John 13-17), delivered to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. This discourse aims to prepare His followers for His departure, establish the foundation of their future life, and outline their relationship with Him and each other.
The verse directly follows Jesus' commands regarding love. In John 15:9-10, Jesus speaks of remaining in His love by keeping His commandments. John 15:12 then states, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Verse 13 immediately explains how He loved them – to the point of sacrificial death. This verse transitions the abstract concept of Christ-like love into a concrete, ultimate example, directly foretelling His act of atonement. It reveals that the love He commands them to have for one another is modelled after His own selfless act. Historically and culturally, while sacrificing one's life for one's nation or comrades was esteemed (e.g., Roman valor), Jesus extends this ultimate act of loyalty to "friends," and uniquely, He is the one initiating this bond and making the sacrifice for them.
John 15 13 Word analysis
- Greater: (Greek: meizona) - Comparative adjective, meaning "larger, mightier, more important." Here, it signifies exceeding all other known forms or demonstrations of love. It suggests a hierarchy of love, with self-sacrificial death for others as the pinnacle.
- love: (Greek: agapen) - Refers to agape love, a distinct concept in the New Testament. It is a selfless, unconditional, volitional, and divine love that seeks the highest good of the other, regardless of their merit. It's not primarily an emotion but an active choice and commitment.
- has no one: (Greek: oudeis echei) - Emphasizes the absolute supremacy and uniqueness of this kind of love. No other act or form of love can surpass this one.
- than this: (Greek: meizona tautēs) - Establishes the standard against which all other love is measured. The following clause explains what "this" refers to.
- that someone lay down: (Greek: hina tis thē) - Hina introduces a purpose or result clause. Tis means "someone, anyone." Thē (from tithēmi) means "to put, to place, to lay down." It implies a deliberate, voluntary act rather than being forced. It speaks of a conscious surrender, not a passive yielding.
- his life: (Greek: tēn psychēn autou) - Psychē often translated as "soul" or "life." It refers to one's entire being, vitality, existence, inner self. Laying down one's psychē means giving up all that one is and has. It points to total commitment, a comprehensive surrender.
- for his friends: (Greek: huper tōn philōn autou) - Huper means "on behalf of," "for the sake of," or "instead of." It denotes substitutionary or representative action. "Friends" (from philos) signifies mutual affection and trust. Unlike saving one's life for family (which is natural) or country (which is honorable), Christ uniquely elevates His disciples to the status of friends and then dies for them, going beyond common expectation and establishing a new bond. It also contrasts with dying for "enemies," highlighting the deep bond formed.
Words-group Analysis:
- Greater love has no one than this: This opening declaration sets the definitive, unparalleled standard. It frames the subsequent action as the ultimate measure of love. It immediately draws attention to the supreme act about to be described, declaring its unmatched quality.
- that someone lay down his life: This phrase specifies the precise action of supreme love. "Lay down" (tithēmi) is a powerful verb suggesting deliberate, intentional self-sacrifice rather than merely dying. It implies giving up something precious. "His life" (psyche) encompasses one's entire being, highlighting the totality of the sacrifice.
- for his friends: The beneficiary of this ultimate love. In the context of Christ, this group moves beyond just His immediate disciples to all who believe in Him and enter into that friendship. This is a profound distinction; while many would die for family or country, to die for friends you have specifically chosen and elevated (John 15:14) speaks to a deeper, more personal commitment, foreshadowing Christ’s initiative to save.
John 15 13 Bonus section
The phrase "lay down his life" (tithēmi psychēn) appears several times in John's Gospel (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18), consistently applied to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. This recurring motif reinforces the volitional and deliberate nature of Christ's sacrifice, indicating it was part of God's eternal plan and not a passive victimhood. Jesus chose the timing and manner of His death, demonstrating His sovereign control even in His human vulnerability. The term "friends" in this context is significant as it elevates the disciples from servants to intimates, implying a relationship of shared knowledge and purpose (John 15:15). Jesus dying for His friends therefore highlights a relationship forged not on duty alone, but on a deeply personal and intentional connection of love. This verse forms the theological cornerstone for understanding atonement as an act of divine love, inviting believers to reciprocate with love for Him and for one another.
John 15 13 Commentary
John 15:13 is a succinct yet profound encapsulation of the gospel. Jesus states the maximum possible expression of love is to willingly surrender one's entire being ("life") on behalf of ("for") others, specifically "friends." This declaration is not a philosophical musing but a direct prelude and theological explanation for Jesus' impending crucifixion. His death on the cross was not an unfortunate circumstance but a deliberate, supreme act of agape love. It's the standard against which all other love is measured.
What makes this love "greater" is its self-sacrificial nature, given without compulsion and for the good of the recipient. Jesus, as the Son of God, truly had "his life" (His divine existence and human embodiment) to "lay down," unlike any ordinary person who merely loses their life to fate or external forces. His death, therefore, stands as the ultimate act of agape because He, being innocent, offered Himself voluntarily for those who were otherwise helpless, and whom He designated as friends. This act creates a new covenant of friendship, moving His followers from servants to confidants (John 15:14-15), established on the bedrock of His immense sacrifice. The call to believers in subsequent verses (and 1 John 3:16) is to reflect this kind of sacrificial love in their relationships with one another, showing the world what divine love truly is.