"No onehas taken it awayfrom Me, but I layit downon My own initiative.I haveauthorityto lay it down,and I haveauthorityto takeit up again.ThiscommandmentI receivedfrom My Father."
But we do seeHim who was madefor a little whilelowerthanthe angels,[namely], Jesus,becauseof the sufferingof deathcrownedwith gloryand honor,sothat by the graceof GodHe might tastedeathfor everyone.
whogaveHimselffor us to redeemus from everylawless deed,and to purifyfor Himselfa peoplefor His ownpossession,zealousfor gooddeeds.
"For thisreasonthe FatherlovesMe, becauseI lay downMy lifesothat I may takeit again.
but sothat the worldmay knowthat I lovethe Father,I doexactlyas the FathercommandedMe. Getup, let us gofrom here.
"For I have come downfrom heaven,not to doMy ownwill,but the willof Him who sentMe.
"Ifyou keepMy commandments,you will abidein My love;justas I have keptMy Father'scommandmentsand abidein His love.
"I amthe goodshepherd;the goodshepherdlays downHis lifefor the sheep.
but put to deaththe Princeof life,[the one] whomGodraisedfrom the dead,[a fact] to whichwe are witnesses.
"But Godraised Him up again,putting an endto the agonyof death,sinceit was impossiblefor Him to be heldin its power.
"I candonothingon My own initiative.As I hear,I judge;and My judgmentis just,becauseI do not seekMy ownwill,but the willof Him who sentMe.
"ThisJesusGodraised up again,to whichwe are allwitnesses.
Jesusanswered,"You would havenoauthorityoverMe, unlessit had beengivenyou from above;for thisreasonhe who deliveredMe to you has[the] greatersin."
evenas the FatherknowsMe and I knowthe Father;and I lay downMy lifefor the sheep.
"For justas the Fatherhaslifein Himself,evensoHe gaveto the Sonalsoto havelifein Himself;
