What does it mean that " there is no greater gift than a person lay down his life for his friends?

Question

Also do you know anyone who is the kind of person who would do such an act?

Answer 1

It means that the utmost maximum act of friendship you can give is to die for your friend. An example would be someone who would take the blame for a murder you committed, and sit in the electric chair in your place. Or someone who throws themselves in front of you when a bullet is coming. Or one who gives you the last of the food during a famine.

Answer 2

Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for His friends (you and me). To lay down one's life doesn't mean necessarily dying. It means todeny one's own wants, desires, selfishness for the greater good of others. The whole point is to place Jesus first, Others second and Self last.

I do not believe that any mortal human is capable of achieving such a lofty ideal, but I do believe that, through the grace of Almighty God and the power of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, any person can achieve it part of the time.

If you think about it, many people have put their lives on the line for the good of someone else. History is full of them.

Answer 3

It's John 15:13, but you misquoted it: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Laying down your life for your friend is not the greatest gift but the greatest love. It means that the greatest expression of love is when you are willing to die so that someone else might live. This is the love Jesus showed when he died on the cross, so as to make a way to heaven for a world of lost sinners.

This is also the love expressed by men and women in the service who fight and are willing to lay down their lives so their countrymen can be free. I feel this love and I'd imagine that you do too. Isn't there anyone you'd be willing to die for? I'd die to protect my mom. I'm 24 and she's done so much for me over the years that I would be willing to lay down my life for hers.

Answer 4

To put yourself in harms way (usually death) to save someone from harm. A friend of my dad's 2 years ago, during a run across our county for Cancer research. Was running with a torch they were passing every 2 miles and his daughter. They had a State patrol car behind them with lights on to warn drivers. It was a four lane road and a elderly man in his 80's went from right lane behind the patrol car, left lane, and swerved back into the right lane. The report from the officer said the driver was doing 55 when he hit him. My dad's friend had just enough time to push his daughter out of the way. He was killed instantly. The driver didn't know what happened and couldn't remember anything.

Answer 5

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
THIS MEANS THAT THIS IS AN ACT OF THE GREATEST KIND OF LOVE. THAT IS WHAT JESUS DID FOR US.
I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT I WOULD DO THIS FOR YOU IF IT MEANT THAT IT WOULD GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO BE COUNTED WORTHY TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.
P.S. I NOTICED AN ANSWER THAT THIS DOES NOT MEAN TO DIE FOR YOUR FRIENDS.
WELL IT MOST ASSUREDLY DOES!

Answer 6

Read the Scripture in context. Jesus was speaking about giving His life on the cross when He said that.
He was stating that it is a supreme sacrifice of love for one person to do that for another, especially when the other is the one deserving.
I know of people like this, I served with them in the military.

Answer 7

It doesnt mean litterly lay down your life for someone as in die for them however it means you will deffend your friends and lay your belieffs to prove their innocence or that they are right if they are truly and honorably not guilty or have the knowledge to be right and you as their friend are the only one who can determine it so. Basicaly if you know that your friends are acused of something and you know that they did it rat them out because is the right thing to do. If they are innocent and you know it deffend them with all you got.

Answer 8

It's a saying glorifying matryrs. Basicly, you can give your friend no greater gift than your life in hopes of bettering his.

Answer 9

See the Bible just keeps messing people up. Throw that thing in the trash and start thinking for yourself!

Answer 10

The first and most important meaning is what Jesus did for us. He died on the cross to destroy our death, and raised Himself up from the dead on the 3rd day to restore our life. It's like the song we sometimes sing at Mass when we proclaim the mystery of the cross of Jesus.

I don't know if I know of anyone personally, but I greatly admire this Navy war hero from WWII:
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Born in Staten Island, New York on January 15, 1931, Petty Officer Benfold graduated from Audubon High School in Audubon, New Jersey. Petty Officer Benfold entered the service at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1950. After completion of recruit training in Great Lakes, Illinois, he was selected for "A" school training as a Hospitalman.

He was killed in action while serving with the First Marine Division in Korea. "For gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Hospital Corpsman, attached to a Company in the First Marine Division during operations against enemy aggressor forces in Korea on 5 September 1952..." he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation continues: "When his company was subjected to heavy artillery and mortar barrages, followed by a determined assault during the hours of darkness by an enemy force estimated at battalion strength, BENFOLD resolutely moved from position to position in the face of intense hostile fire, treating the wounded and lending words of encouragement.

Leaving the protection of his sheltered position to treat the wounded when the platoon area in which he was working was attacked from both the front and the rear, he moved forward to an exposed ridge line where he observed two Marines in a large crater. As he approached the two men to determine their condition, an enemy soldier threw two grenades into the crater while two other enemies charged the position. Picking up a grenade in each hand, BENFOLD leaped out of the crater and hurled himself against the onrushing hostile soldiers, pushing the grenades against their chests and killing both the attackers.

Mortally wounded while carrying out this heroic act, BENFOLD, by his great personal valor and resolute spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death, was directly responsible for saving the lives of his two comrades. His exceptional courage reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for others."
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The last sentence gives me a lump in my throat even though I didn't know him.