Joh 10:17 Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I might take it again.
Joh 10:18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down from Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. I have received this commandment from My Father.
These concepts are not easy to explain,
and sometimes I'm not able to get my point across clearly.
These commentaries might be helpful,
there is a lot in these that is very useful to me.
This was in Vincent's Word Studies-----------------------
Taketh away (αἴρει)
Some texts read ἤρεν, took away.
According to this reading the word would point back to the work of Jesus
as conceived and accomplished in the eternal counsel of God,
where His sacrifice of Himself was not exacted,
but was His own spontaneous offering in harmony with the Father's will.
I lay it down of myself
Wyc., I put it from myself.
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Robertson's Word Pictures
No one taketh it away from me (oudeis airei autēn ap' emou).
But Aleph B read ēren (first aorist active indicative of airō, to take away),
probably correct (Westcott and Hort).
“John is representing Jesus as speaking sub specie aeternitatis” (Bernard).
He speaks of his death as already past and the resurrection as already accomplished.
Cf. Joh_3:16.
Of myself (ap' emautou). The voluntariness of the death of Jesus repeated and sharpened.
D omits it, probably because of superficial and apparent conflict with Joh_5:19.
But there is no inconsistency as is shown by Joh_3:16; Rom_5:8.
The Father “gave” the Son who was glad to be given and to give himself.
I have power to lay it down (exousian echō theinai autēn).
Exousia is not an easy word to translate (right, authority, power, privilege).
See Joh_1:12. Restatement of the voluntariness of his death for the sheep.
And I have power to take it again (kai exousian echō palin labein autēn).
Note second aorist active infinitive in both cases
(theinai from tithēmi and labein from lambanō), single acts.
Recall Joh_2:19 where Jesus said: “And in three days I will raise it up.”
He did not mean that he will raise himself from the dead independently
of the Father as the active agent (Rom_8:11).
I received from my Father (elabon para tou patros mou).
Second aorist active indicative of lambanō.
He always follows the Father’s command (entolē) in all things (Joh_12:49.; Joh_14:31).
So now he is doing the Father’s will about his death and resurrection.
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This is a much better explanation than I could give.
Hope this helps.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat