Scripture: John 15:9-17

C.I.: Loving in Jesus

We are studying John 15. - Jesus is in the upper room with His apostles. – In a few hours…!
In our first lesson = our relationship with Jesus. – Today… our relationship with each other!

I. What Happens when Christians Abide in the Love of Jesus (Verses 9-17)

A. In Our Relationship to Jesus (vs. 9-11)

1. (v. 9a), “Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you”
a. “Just as…”: Jesus loves us with the exact same love – that the Father has for Him – incredible!!!
1) (8:54), “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me.”
2) (I Jn. 3:1), “See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should….”
3) Jesus thinks His people are pretty special. – Now you tell me why you think otherwise??!!
4) Thus, because of our relationship w/Jesus – we receive His Love!

2. (vs. 9b-10),“…abide in My love. – If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.”
a. “Abide” = A key word (live, remain, stay, linger). – How? – By obeying His commandments!
1) Show how Jesus has frequently used the word “abide” - in this chapter.
2) This is a tendency in the religious world today to want to denigrate obedience to commands.
3) ILLUST.: Man in Taos who left one denomination because of “its rigid stance” for another.
b. As a loving Father – God’s commands are for our benefit – not His!
1) (12:49- 50), “I did not speak on My own … I know that His commandment is eternal life.”
2) Thus, because of our relationship w/Jesus – we receive His Blessings!

3. (v. 11), “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be….”
a. “My joy”: Jesus joy was found in doing God’s will – and looking forward to our eternity w/Him!
1) ILLUST.: Joy vs. Happiness = internal relationship w/God vs. external relation. w/world.
2) (Heb. 12:2), “Looking unto Jesus… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross….”
3) What have we ever endured for Jesus?! – What has our obedience to Him ever cost us??!
4) Thus, because of our relationship w/Jesus – we receive His Joy!

B. In Our Relationship to Each Other (vs. 12-17)

1. #1 = The Supreme Commandment (v. 12)

a. “This is My commandment, that you love one another.”
1) Because of our relationship w/Jesus – He knows how desperately we will need each other!
a) (Gal. 6:2), “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.”
b) (Heb. 3:13), “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is called, ‘Today,’….”
c) (Rom. 12:10), “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference….”
d) Our elders, in a meeting 3 weeks ago – strongly encouraged me to preach on the
importance of the love we must have for each other (sounds like what Jesus is saying!!).

2. #2 = The Supreme Example (v. 13)

a. “,… just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life…..”
1) In v. 12, Jesus used “just as.” – Like His love for us (v. 9) – so should ours be for each other.
2) Most of us know - we should be willing to die for Jesus – (Mk. 8:34), “If anyone wishes….”
3) Many of us understand that husbands – should be willing to die for our wives (Eph. 5:25).
4) But how many of us know – we should be willing to the same for each other – (This verse!)
5) And not just for “God’s good people” – but the world’s worst – (Rom. 5:6-8), “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly….”
6) Thus, Jesus example of love – becomes the supreme example for our lives.

3. #3 = The Supreme Bond (vs. 14-15)

a. “You are My friends, if you do what I command you. – No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, - for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
1) Any level of relationship w/Jesus – is characterized by our obedience (“if you do what I command you”) to Him (I Jn. 2:3-4; Jn. 15:14; 14:15), “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments …. You are My friends … If you love Me…
2) So whether we are talking about the newest convert – or the most senior saint – our love for each other should cause us - to spend our time, resources, and our very lives for each other!!!
3) This means that because of our bond of love for Him – we can love others – no matter what
their relationship with Jesus may be!

4. #4 = The Supreme Purpose (vs. 16-17)

a. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give you. – This I command you, that you love one another.”
1) Jesus has called us to an incredible purpose – that we should bear fruit for Him!!!
2) This is what we saw in our first lesson – because we abide in Jesus we are called to go forth and to tell everyone about Him (i.e., “bear fruit”).

b. He reminds us of this point again. – Why? Because today we see a polarity amongst believers.
1) Some are very good at loving their brothers and sisters – but do not bear fruit for Jesus.
Christianity becomes something of an exclusive club – only a few are allowed to enter!
2) Others are good at talking to non-believers about Jesus – but are slow to warm up to their
brethren (especially those whom they believe are not reaching out to the lost).
3) Therefore, Jesus is calling for us to a beautiful balance – where our lives are characterized
by both a love for the lost in sharing the good news of Jesus with them – and a love for our
brethren – which is characterized by a sharing of our lives with God’s family!

Matthew 28:19-20