609 By embracing in his human heart the Father's love for men, Jesus "loved them to the end", for "greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." ⁴²⁵ In suffering and death his humanity became the free and perfect instrument of his divine love which desires the salvation of men. ⁴²⁶ Indeed, out of love for his Father and for men, whom the Father wants to save, Jesus freely accepted his Passion and death: "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord." ⁴²⁷ Hence the sovereign freedom of God's Son as he went out to his death. ⁴²⁸