Episode 104 - "Love one another" - John 15:12-17

John 15:12   “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant, does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

In the preceding text covered in the last episode, Jesus spoke of himself as the “True Vine.” He is contrasting himself with the nation of Israel that, as God’s vine, repeatedly failed to produce the fruit it was intended to bear. God the Father is the “vinedresser;” the person who looks after the vine to prune it and do whatever is necessary to make it healthy and produce the most and best fruit possible. Jesus’ disciples then are the branches that are to abide in the vine and bear much fruit as God tends to us for that purpose. 

The way we are to abide or stay connected to Jesus is by being ever-dependent upon him; keeping his words and teaching in our minds and hearts and allowing them to guide our thoughts, values, and actions. Obeying his commands is not burdensome. It’s not about keeping a checklist of good works. It’s about accepting and receiving his love for us and sharing that with others. In doing so, we receive the full experience of joy.  

In John 13:34 Jesus told his disciples, “I give you a new commandment - to love one another.” Jesus repeats this command in John 15:12. At the beginning of this study almost two years ago, I spoke about repetition and how it shows that something is being emphasized when it is repeated. Jesus repeats things often as shown in the book and the author repeats things to emphasize his perspective on Jesus’ life and ministry. Clearly, Jesus’ priority for his disciples is for them to love one another. 

Jesus explains that this kind of love of which he is speaking is not a romantic kind of love that we think about in our day and culture. This is a love that is a self-sacrificing kind of love. Jesus is about to demonstrate that kind of love for his disciples and for us. 

Jesus tells his disciples that his relationship with them is transitioning from one of a teacher-to-disciple type of relationship, which was very similar to master/servant, to him now calling them friends. He explains that in the former kind of relationship, the servant is given a job to do without any explanations of why. But, Jesus has shown them and taught them what he was given by the Father. They are to continue on the work he has begun. But, this work given to Jesus’ disciples is not simply tasks done out of obligation, fear, and complete ignorance of its purpose, but out of a close, personal relationship and performed out of love and joy that he gives us. 

Jesus then reminds them that he chose them for this privilege of “bearing fruit that remains.” (v. 16) Has it occurred to you that the Son of God, Jesus has chosen you for an assignment in which he has equipped and empowered us, given us the Holy Spirit, and made us his friends and that whatever we need in this mission we can ask in His name and the Father will give it to us?  It makes sense that getting on board with this should bring us such joy. 

Now, in case you missed it earlier, we must love one another. (v. 17)