The apostle John wrote how Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knows me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again”, and in chapter ten and verse eighteen of his book John shared how Jesus said, “no man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself” where we read:
No man takes 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.
The verse reads, “No man takes 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.” John began with the words, “no man” which means “not one person whether male or female” “takes it from me” or “removes and separates Jesus' life apart from Him”, “but I lay it down of myself” which means “however, notwithstanding, nonetheless and moreover I, Jesus, lay aside and set forth Jesus' own life by His own self”. “I have power” or “I, Jesus, hold, own and possess the ability” “to lay it down” which means “to lay aside and set forth His own life”, “and I have power” or “and I, Jesus, hold, own and possess the ability” “to take it again” which means “to claim, procure and lay hold of Jesus' own life”. John shared how Jesus said not one person is able to “lay aside and set forth” His own life because He alone had the ability to “set it forth” and “raise” it again.
The verse goes on to say, “This commandment have I received of my Father.” John continued with the words, “this commandment” which means “the precept, rule, order and injunction about which Jesus spoke” “have I received” or “Jesus lay hold of, owned and possessed” “of my Father” which means “from Jesus' Heavenly Father God”. John shared how Jesus said He “possessed” the idea of “laying down His life” and “taking it up again” from His Heavenly Father God.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how no one had the ability to “take” Jesus' “life” from Him nor could they “raise” it up again. God gave Jesus the assignment to “give” His life for the sins of the world, and when a person yields their life to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive their sins and grant them everlasting life. Jesus obeyed His Heavenly Father God, and His desire is to have everyone yield their life to Him.
Next time John shares how, “there was a division therefore again among the Jews", so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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