v9-17 Our responsibility to each
other
“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue
ye in my love.” He repeats the
threefold cord that is not easily broken; the Father, the Son, and the
disciples, and this intimate communion enables the reproduction of the life of
Christ in us. The environment in which this takes place is that of love, Divine
love, which is shared between us all. This love, which is “out of this world”,
is to be practical toward one another and is the subject matter of these
verses. The section begins and ends
with love. The love of the Father for
the Son; the love of the Son for the disciples; the love of the disciples for
the Father and the Son, and for each other.
Twice, He commands that they love one another-v12 and v17. Love
to the Father is expressed in the display of love to each other. John writes in his 1st epistle chapter
4v20 “…he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen?” Again, He
deepens the intimacy of their relationship in this portion. In the previous verses He addressed them as “my
disciples”; now He calls them “my friends”. As disciples we have a duty of love; as
friends we have devotion of love, which is a step further.
He speaks firstly of a love that is beyond all other, the love
between the Father and the Son. It is
that kind of love we are to develop with one another. “If ye keep my
commandments, ye shall abide in my love”. In the section He speaks of “my love”, “my
joy”, and “my friends”. The three things
are connected: His relationship to them as friends, enables them to demonstrate
His love and to experience His joy. It
is a joy that is independent of circumstances, as is evident here, since in a
few hours He will suffer the trauma of Calvary, yet He speaks of His joy. This is deep seated joy that nothing can alter,
the joy of doing His Father’s will. It
is that same joy we will find when we do His will, when we obey His
commandments without question.
He commands that we love one another, with the same love that
exists between the Father and the Son, this is Divine love. He now defines the greatest expression of
human love- “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends: ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” He is speaking of the kind of love exhibited
in the Godhead, and the greatest love known in humanity. He was about to lay down His life for His
disciples, who were His friends, and it is this quality of love, sacrificial
love, heavenly love, that we should develop between each other.
“Henceforth I call you not servants: for the servant knoweth
not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I
have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Friends are those with whom secrets are
shared and He has shared intimate secrets with them. Not now mere servants, but friends of the
Lord! Few people have known such a close
partnership with God. It was said of
Abraham that “He was the friend of God”.
Good to have friends, what absolute distinction to be the friend of the
Almighty!
Abraham was called the friend of God-James 2v23; 2nd Chronicles 20v7; Isaiah
41v8. He obeyed God without reserve or
question and acted upon His word.
Moses was called the friend of God-Exodus 33v11; Numbers 12v8; Deuteronomy 34v10. He spoke with God face to face.
The apostles were called the friends of Jesus-John 15v14-15.
They were loyal to Him in life and spread His word in testimony. They were loyal to Him even unto martyrdom.
Got questions.org defines friendship as follows: “Friendship is a reciprocal relationship
between two people who share a bond of mutual affection.” This is expressed in knowing and
understanding each other; in shared interests; in spending time together; in
exchange of intimate secrets. To be
sharing intimate secrets with the Sovereign of the universe is the highest privilege
anyone can be given. This is our
responsibility toward each other. He
says;
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,
that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain, that
whatsoever, ye shall ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. These
things I command you that ye love one another.”
Apparently, it was normal practice for students of religion to
choose their own masters (Rabbis), according to how they saw themselves. Jesus, here is reversing that practice, for
He has no rival; in Divine things, He has no equal. He reminds them of the privilege granted to
them of intimate knowledge of high and holy things. He has spoken of choosing them before in this
gospel- 6v70;13v18, and is a reminder to us that we have been the subject of
gracious election. As John says later
“We love Him, because He first loved us”-1st John 4v10. It was God who made the move toward us, for
in our fallen state we were unable to seek Him.
Associated with Divine choice is ordination, predestination, which is
always to a service, rather than merely to a status. We were destined to go forth and produce
fruit that would remain. We have been
chosen as His friends, that we might be fruitful for Him in this world. We were helpless, and hopeless, and useless,
before God in mercy moved toward us. Now
we are reconciled, and have a hope beyond this life, and we are now useful to
God to bear fruit that lasts for His glory.
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