John 10:18 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →No one takes Jesus' life from him; he lays it down freely, with authority both to lay it down and to take it again, as the Father commissioned.
What Does John 10:18 Mean?
On the eve of plots and arrests, Jesus removes all doubt about who governs his death. Betrayal, trial, and crucifixion will look like power closing in on a victim; he declares in advance that nothing happens to him that he does not allow. Both the dying and the rising lie within the authority the Father has given him.
The cross, then, is not a tragedy he failed to escape but an offering he chose to make. No soldier, no council, no empire took his life; love laid it down. This is why the gospel is good news rather than a martyr story: the One who had every power to refuse death accepted it — for the sheep — and held power equal to taking life up again.
John 10:18 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- authority; the rightful freedom to act.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 10:18
What does John 10:18 mean?
No one takes Jesus' life from him; he lays it down freely, with authority both to lay it down and to take it again, as the Father commissioned.