What does this verse mean?

Question

"Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" John 15:13
Can you state what this means from a kid's view?

Answer 1

For a kid?
Doing something to help someone even if it means giving up something you want. Like helping mom with extra chores before going out to play, or giving your sandwich to someone who is hungry, or letting another child ride your new bike because they don't have one, saving your allowance to give to poor kids, things like that.

Answer 2

It means that friends should be loyal and generous and kind to one another. They should stick up for eachother and help others who don't have all that they do. This line is saying someone should even go so far as to be willing to sacrifice him or herself for friends, but I am sure it is meant metaphorically. (In other words, not a death pact. I think it means friends should have the virtues of goodness and fairness, be a support to eachother, and in that way "lay down their lives"). Most people believe it means that if a train is coming and you can get free but your friend can't, you would pull him/her from the tracks even though you know you'll die if you do. I think it meant something more on the lines of being a good listener and a compassionate person. What we do in a situation where we have no time to think cannot be known unless we come upon that circumstance. Perhaps it is meant literally (to "die" for a friend) but other passages of John's make me think he just wanted us to be kind to one another.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

It means there is no greater love than a friend laying down his life for you.

Answer 4

From a kid's point of view: The best way you can demonstrate/show your love for someone is to be willing to put yourself in danger, in order to protect your friend/family. Example: If a bully were threatening your friend or little brother you step in between them in order to protect/save your loved one.

God Bless!

Answer 5

if your friend was shot at would you jump infront of the bullet to save them.

if so you have greater love than any other person just as jesus had gave his life for us, to save us from hell
there is no greater love

Answer 6

No higher expression of love could be given. Life is the most valuable object we possess; and when a man is willing to lay that down for his friends or his country, it shows the utmost extent of love. Even this love for friends has been rarely witnessed.

A very few cases like that of Damon and Pythias have occurred where a man was willing to save the life of his friend by giving his own.

It greatly enhances the love of Christ, that while the instances of those who have been willing to die for friends have been so rare, he was willing to die for enemies - bitter foes, who rejected his reign, persecuted him, reviled him, scorned him, and sought his life, 1Jo_4:10; Rom_5:6, Rom_5:10. It also shows us the extent of his love that he gave himself up, not to common sufferings, but to the most bitter, painful, and protracted sorrows, not for himself, not for friends, but for a thoughtless and unbelieving world. “O Lamb of God, was ever pain was ever love like thine!”

Answer 7

Its simple, to give your life to save a friend or loved one is the greatest sacrifice of all, showing the greatest love.

Answer 8

ok well i wouldnt say it directly to kids in the literal sense
but it basically means , we should be loyal and defend each other ... even to the point of putting our own life on the line ( which is odd really )

Answer 9

We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enough to give his life for us. We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love; listening, helping, encouraging, giving. We are to try to give all the love we can and then give a little more.

Answer 10

That text is the biblical foundation for kamikazee pilots and suicide bombers or people (such as Christ) dying on a cross for others.