John 15:13 - No Greater Love

Audio Bible

Context

No Greater Love
12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do what I command you.…

Cross References

Romans 5:7-8
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. / But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.1 John 3:16
By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.Ephesians 5:2
and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.Philippians 2:7-8
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. / And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.Hebrews 9:14
how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!1 John 4:9-10
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. / And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”Luke 22:19-20
And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” / In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.Isaiah 53:12
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.Psalm 22:14-18
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me. / My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death. / For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. ...Genesis 22:12-13
“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.” / Then Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram in a thicket, caught by its horns. So he went and took the ram and offered it as a burnt offering in place of his son.

John 10:11,15
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep…

Romans 5:6-8
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly…

Ephesians 5:2
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

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John 15

Greater love has no one than this
This phrase emphasizes the supreme nature of sacrificial love. In the biblical context, love is often demonstrated through actions rather than words. The concept of "greater love" is rooted in the selfless, unconditional love that God shows humanity. This love is agape, a Greek term used in the New Testament to describe the highest form of love, which is selfless and sacrificial. The idea of "greater love" is also reflected in the Old Testament, where God’s covenantal love for Israel is portrayed as steadfast and enduring.

that he lay down his life
The act of laying down one's life is the ultimate expression of love and sacrifice. In the historical context of the Roman Empire, crucifixion was a common method of execution, reserved for the most serious offenses. Jesus' willingness to lay down His life is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, such as Isaiah 53, which speaks of the suffering servant who bears the sins of many. This phrase also connects to the typology of the sacrificial lamb in the Passover, where the lamb's blood spared the Israelites from death, prefiguring Christ's sacrifice.

for his friends.
The term "friends" signifies a close, personal relationship. In the cultural context of the time, friendship was a significant bond, often involving loyalty and mutual support. Jesus redefines friendship by including His disciples and, by extension, all believers. This is further illustrated in John 15:15, where Jesus calls His disciples friends because He has shared with them everything He learned from the Father. The concept of friendship with God is also seen in the Old Testament, where figures like Abraham are called friends of God (James 2:23). This phrase highlights the intimate relationship believers are invited into through Christ's sacrifice.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples during the Last Supper, imparting final teachings before His crucifixion.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' message, representing all believers who follow Christ.

3. The Last Supper
The setting of this discourse, a significant event where Jesus shares His final meal with His disciples before His arrest and crucifixion.

Teaching Points

Understanding Sacrificial Love
Jesus defines the greatest form of love as self-sacrifice. This challenges us to consider how we can embody this love in our relationships.

Imitating Christ's Example
As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His sacrificial love in our daily lives, putting others' needs before our own.

Friendship in Christ
Jesus elevates the concept of friendship by linking it to sacrificial love, encouraging us to cultivate deep, meaningful relationships grounded in selflessness.

The Cost of Discipleship
True discipleship involves a willingness to lay down our lives, whether literally or metaphorically, for the sake of others and the Gospel.

Love as a Witness
Our love for one another, demonstrated through sacrifice, serves as a powerful testimony to the world of Christ's love.

(13) Greater love hath no man than this.--Better, . . . hath no one than this. (Comp. Note on John 10:18; John 10:29.) Nothing greater is conceivable in the thought of love. He has spoken of His own love for them as the measure of their love for each other. The thought of this verse dwells upon what His love really was and what theirs should also be. (Comp. especially Note on 1John 3:16.)

That a man lay down his life for his friends.--Better, that any one . . . For the phrase "lay down his life," comp. John 10:11. The term "friends" is here used because those whom He is addressing were His friends. There is no opposition between this passage and Romans 5:6 et seq. The point dwelt upon is the greatness of the love, and the highest reach of love is the self-sacrifice which spares not life itself. . . .

Verse 13. - Greater love than this (love) no one hath, namely (ἵνα), that one should lay down his life for his friends. Meyer and Lange endeavor to maintain even here the telic force of ἵνα, "The love to you is of so consummate a character, that its object and purpose is seen in my laying down my life for my friends;" and Hengstenberg thinks so because probably a reference here is made to Isaiah 53:10, that our Lord was pointing to his atoning death - to a death needed alike by enemies and friends. Such an interpretation supposes the lofty purpose of the greatest love. To me, however, it seems more probable that the translation given above places the argument upon a surer; because more common, human, experience. The disposition to die for ungodly and for enemies is exalted by St. Paul (Romans 5:8) above the self-sacrifice involved in dying for the good. Still, which may be shown, and has often been shown in self-sacrificing death for those who are beloved, whatever other and wider ends may be discerned afterwards and spoken of in other connections, he is here asserting that the love of friendship is quite strong and intense enough to secure such a sacrifice. And he adds - Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

Greater
μείζονα (meizona)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular - Comparative
Strong's 3173: Large, great, in the widest sense.

love
ἀγάπην (agapēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 26: From agapao; love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially a love-feast.

has
ἔχει (echei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

no one
οὐδεὶς (oudeis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

than this,
ταύτης (tautēs)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

[he]
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

lay down
θῇ (thē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

life
ψυχὴν (psychēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.

for
ὑπὲρ (hyper)
Preposition
Strong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

friends.
φίλων (philōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5384: Friendly; subst: a friend, an associate. Properly, dear, i.e. A friend; actively, fond, i.e. Friendly.

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John 15:13 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this (Jhn Jo Jn)