July 18, 2007

Chapter 15, verses 13-17- Jesus continues to instruct His disciples in their relationship and its particulars.  Vs.13- “Greater love has no one….lay down….. friends.”  This remark points to the ultimate act of service (vs.12)

by a believer as well as underscoring Jesus’ own love and sacrifice for the church (Eph.5:25).  Jesus is our “friend” who will “lay down his life” – see 10:15.

  Vs. 14 –“You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.”-

The intimacy whereby believers may be called “my friends” requires a life of submission to Christ and obedience to His commands.  That is, friendship may be enjoyed ONLY in the realm of obedience, just as obedience is required in order to enjoy His love (vs.9) and His joy (vs.11).   Verse 15 is explanatory; it shows that genuine intimacy (abiding in Christ- vs.4-5) brings a relationship above that of simply “service”—it brings an intimacy that may be likened to “friendship”.

Jesus’ disclosure of the divine plan is intended to deepen that intimacy with His disciples.  The word for “friends” is philos from the Greek word for ‘love’.  It is a personal love of cherishing and affection.  All believers enjoy agapeo (love), but

only those who abide in Him enjoy philos (love).

   Now Jesus expresses a truth that they were not conscious of—“you did not choose me, but I chose you….”  The structure of the text puts the word, “not” less on “choose”  and more on “you”- paraphrased =“it was not you that chose…”   Jesus is showing it was not their initiative, but His initiative that brought the present relationship of discipleship.  This supports the Biblical view that “there is none that seeks after God”- Rom.3:11.  All worthwhile and appropriate relationships with God are the result of His grace initiative, not ours.

   But Jesus continues with “I chose you and appointed you that you go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”  -that is, Jesus’ initiative had a goal of genuine fruit-bearing in our lives.  His words, “that whatever you ask in My name He may give you” instruct us that prayer

is not based on God’s covenant relationship with national Israel, but rather on His personal value before the throne.  See 14:13-14.  Our supplication is an appeal to God in view of the value and merit of Christ, the Obedient Son who sits at the Father’s right hand.  Christ is not only our Mediator (John 14:6, I Tim.2:5),

He also provides our “merit”; God hears and answers prayer due to the value of His name and Person, rather than ours.  Thus, to pray “in Christ’s name” or “in

Jesus’ name” is to ask on the basis of His merit (righteousness) with all its immeasurable value to the Father.  God, in turn, answers because of grace—

the undeserved blessing upon human beings because of the work of Christ.

   Jesus then adds, “these things I command you, that you love one another.”  This repetition of vs.12 is to set up the necessary contrast with vs.18 and 19.

 The later NT scripture will address a number of items of “one another”-

Be kindly affectionate- Rom.13:10,  In honor giving preference- Rom.13:10;

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Of the same mind- Rom.13:16;  Edify –Rom.14:19;  Receive –Rom.15:7;

 Same care- I Cor.12:25; Serve- Gal.5:13;  Bear one another’s burden’s-Gal.6:2; Forbearing- Eph.4:2;  Be kind- Eph.5:2;   Submitting- Eph.5:21;

 Forbearing and forgiving- Col.3:13;  Abound in Love- I Thess. 3:12;

 Comfort- I Thess.4:18;  Consider- Heb.10:24;  Confess faults- James 5:16;

 Use hospitality- I Peter 4:9;  Be subject- I Peter 5:5;

 Teaching and admonishing- Col.3:16; Exhort- Heb.3:13.

There is also a set of negatives or prohibitions concerning “one another”-

See- Not judge- Rom.14:13;  Not provoking or envying- Gal. 5:15;

Lie not-Col.3:9;  Not hating- Titus 3:3;  Speak not evil- James 4:11;

Not grumble- James 5:9.

Chapter 15, verses 18-19-Jesus turns to contrast this “love” with the

hatred the world has and will have toward Him.  “World” is used of the system

of evil that characterizes most activity. Note Gal.1:4 where Paul calls it the “present evil world”.  The contrast between the values of Jesus (doing the will of the Father) and that of the world (following lusts –I John 2:15-17) is altogether

incompatible causing those in the world to despise and hate Jesus.  They do this because His life and light reveals their sinfulness and rebellion – 3:19-20 and 9:39.  Believers will be the object of such hatred as well—but they must remember that the hatred is toward Christ.