KJV ORIGINAL
No 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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Nobody's forcing this on me, I'm choosing to give up my life. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to pick it back up again. This is what my Father asked me to do.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Jesus chose the cross because love is always a choice, not something you're forced into.
📜 Historical Context — Why was this verse written?
The Gospel of John was traditionally written by John, a disciple of Jesus, for a diverse Christian audience in the late first century CE. It was
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