John 15:9-17: What is real love?

What is love? This is an important question to which John, ‘the disciple whom Jesus loves’, offers us an answer. He tells us that in Jesus’ farewell discourse with his friends (John 14:1-16:33), Jesus mentions love a fair amount. Knowing how important real love is, Jesus tells his disciples to love one another as he has loved them (John 13:34,35; 15:9,12,17).

Jesus tells his friends, as he is about to be executed, that if they love him, they will remain in his love even after he has gone on ahead (John 15:9): they will keep his commandments, which are always directly from God (John 14:15,21,23; 15:10). He then tells us his primary commandment: love one another (John 15:12). And how can we show that we have this love? Jesus says, while at the same time calling his disciples his friends, that greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus, of course, proceeds to do just that (John 19:30) and in their turn, tradition tells us that the disciples respond in kind.

John reminds us of Jesus’ words, “ If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me ” (John 14:23-24). And Jesus says, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:12-14).

Jesus really does love us. Indeed he was executed for us. He sacrificed his life so that we all may live. This is real love. As he has given his life for us, in return shouldn’t we offer our whole life up to him? For indeed when we do, we share not only in his sacrifice but also in the glory of his resurrection. Let us love God, love our neighbour, and since Jesus gave his life so that we may all live, let us live our lives all for him.

Jesus loves you!

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