In John 15:9, Jesus's love is the foundation for abiding, and 15:13 defines that love's supreme expression—laying down life.

John 10:11 presents the same image: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, defining the greatest love.

John 10:15 repeats the shepherd laying down his life, linking Jesus' voluntary sacrifice to his relationship with the Father.

In John 13:1, Jesus's love for his own to the end sets the stage for his ultimate sacrifice, which is the laying down of life described here.

In John 13:34, the command to love as Jesus loved directly implies the willingness to lay down life, providing the practical application of this verse.

Romans 5:6-8 expands the scope: Christ died for sinners, not just friends—showing love for enemies, deepening the sacrifice.

Ephesians 5:2 calls believers to walk in love as Christ gave himself up, mirroring the sacrificial model of laying down life.

1 John 4:7-11 ties God's sending his Son as propitiation to our duty to love, grounding sacrificial love in Christ's example.

In Romans 5:7, Paul notes the rarity of dying for a righteous person, contrasting human sacrifice with Christ's greater love for sinners.

In Romans 5:8, Christ died for us while we were sinners, showing God's love—this is the precise act of laying down life for others.

In 1 Corinthians 13:3, sacrifice without love is worthless, highlighting that the true laying down of life must be motivated by love.

In Galatians 2:20, Paul states that Christ loved him and gave himself, directly echoing the self-giving love that defines the greatest love.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:10, this same sacrificial love is embodied: Christ died for us so we may live with him.

1 John 3:16 directly echoes this: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to do likewise for brothers.

In Romans 16:4, Priscilla and Aquila risked their necks for Paul, exemplifying the sacrificial love for friends that Jesus describes.