John 10:18

οὐδεὶς αἴρει. No one taketh it from Me; not even God. See on John 10:28. Two points are insisted on; (1) that the Death is entirely voluntary: this is stated both negatively and positively: see on John 1:3; (2) that both Death and Resurrection are in accordance with a commission received from the Father. Comp. ‘Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit’ (Luke 23:46). The precise words used by the two Apostles of Christ’s death bring this out very clearly; παρέδωκεν τὸ πνεῦμα (John 19:30); ἀφῆκεν τ. πν. (Matthew 27:50). The ἐξέπνευσεν of S. Mark and S. Luke is less strong; but none use the simple ἀπέθανεν. Ἐγώ is emphatic; but I lay it down of Myself.

ἐξουσίαν ἔχω. I have right, authority, liberty: John 1:12; John 5:27; John 17:2; John 19:10. This authority is the commandment of the Father: and hence this passage in no way contradicts the usual N.T. doctrine that Christ was raised to life again by the Father. Acts 2:24.

τ. τ. ἐντολήν. The command to die and rise again, which He ‘received’ at the Incarnation. Comp. John 4:34; John 5:30; John 6:38.