Jesus has been teaching his disciples about the need to be connected to him - like a branch on a plant.
It says "remain", "continue", "stay put" 9 times –
It means don’t move, abide (John 15:1-11).
“Love” is in the text 9 times.
It means totally, completely, unconditionally, no strings attached, love apart from emotion. People can see it, sense, experience this love.
John 15:12-27
12 Here is my command. Love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives their life for their friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore. Slaves do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit that will last. I also appointed you so that the Father will give you what you ask for. He will give you whatever you ask for in my name. 17 Here is my command. Love one another.
18 “My disciples, does the world hate you? Remember that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you like one of its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you. I said, ‘A slave is not more important than his master.’ (John 13:16) If people hated me and tried to hurt me, they will do the same to you. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you like that because of my name. They do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 I did works among them that no one else did. If I hadn’t, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen those works. And still they have hated both me and my Father. 25 This has happened so that what is written in their Law would come true. It says, ‘They hated me without any reason.’ (Psalms 35:19; 69:4)
26 “I will send the Friend to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth, who comes out from the Father. When the Friend comes to help you, he will be a witness about me. 27 You must also be witnesses about me. That’s because you have been with me from the beginning.
What was/is Jesus love like?
1. Jesus’ love is sacrificial (giving of yourself for something else, something higher-people-people like us). God became human (only divine - fully God and fully man). Emptied himself. Eternal effect/consequence for God.
2. Jesus showed his love in his daily life: he served others, his humility (not proud or arrogant, low in importance, respectful), healed, sent evil away, comforted & supported, fed the hungry, talked with everyone - men, women and children but especially the hard-to-talk-to people (the religious, rich, the hated ones, low ones, forgotten ones of society). He didn’t give up (persevered). Jesus allowed people to choose and walk away.
3. Jesus’ love didn’t choose comfort and safety. He moved towards danger, and experienced it. Felt pain, grief, suffering, and being abandoned and left alone.
4. Jesus’ love goes first. Jesus does not choose people because they are the best. He loves first. Jesus told his disciples that he chose them, they did not choose him.
5. Jesus’ love died for us – to forgive us and make all things new. The cross shows what kind of love Jesus has for us. Jesus commands us to love one another just as he has loved us.
6. Jesus’ love gives peace, joy, purpose (something to live for), friendship.
15 "I do not call you slaves anymore. Slaves do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends."
A slave could be a useful and trusted tool but could never be thought of as a partner. He has such a love for people that He allows people to walk away. Us to walk away.
Love as Jesus has loved us. We are busy so we need to be intentional with love. Be aware of the people around us.
a. Serve others. Prefer someone else, let someone else go first or talk first. Help someone. Do something for someone else. Don’t look for praise or reward. Do good (bear fruit). Love quietly. Like Jesus.
b. Let your love move first. Talk with everyone – don’t judge and ignore certain people. Be the first to walk across the room. Love by forgiving enemies and praying for them. They may reject and we may need to love from a distance. But like Jesus, your love goes first.
c. Share humbly, gently, respectfully about Jesus through your life, your work, your words but allow others choice, rejection, anger. Don’t argue, force, shout, be angry. Be still. Love. Let Jesus do his work.
Love as Jesus has loved us
=Serve others without praise,
Let your love move first,
Share about Jesus with humility – allow people to choose.
