¹³ No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.^(A)

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.^(A)

² and walk in love, as Christ loved us^[a] and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.^(A)

¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.^{(A) 7} Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. ⁸ But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.^(B)

God Is Love

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.^{(A) 8} Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.^{(B) 10} In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.^{(C) 11} Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.^(D)