No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. You are MY friends if you do what I command you (John 15:13-14 CSB)

John 15 is so full – so powerful. Jesus is squeezing so much teaching in this night before his crucifixion.

In John 13:34-35, he has already said, A new commandment I give you… love one another… as I have loved you… by this all will know you are my disciples…

Now, he has talked about “abiding in him” 15:5 that’s where life and fruitfulness exist for the “branches” The Vine is the source, the Branch gets life from the Vine.

Then you get down to verse 13, and we often read this looking back and knowing what Jesus died for us, but I’ve often pointed that Jesus didn’t just “show up” and die, no, he came and LIVED, gave up his LIFE, not just his death.

So, is he calling us to consider how we live? Is he saying we should live lives surrendered to the better FOR someone else?

Yes

Oh wait, my greatest love is laying down my life, for my friends. philos = beloved, dear one – Ok, I can do that – live surrendered to my friend…

That’s the problem, when we pick and choose verses.

Laying down your life for your friends, got it…

Wait

v14 you are MY friends if you do what I command you…

uh-oh – What has he commanded? Back up to all of this chapter, but even if you take a few verses…

v9 as the Father has loved me, I have loved you (1) Remain in my Love – if you keep my commands you will remain in my love…

Is he saying that when I do not do what he says I’m NOT staying in his love?

He continues, Just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in HIS love… Well… go to John 5:19 and Jesus said he was unable to do anything on his own… only what the Father does… the Son does…

Then in John 15:11 says there is Joy in this… that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete…

Joy comes in knowing and doing what Jesus says, what the Father says

(2) v12 this is my command, love one another, as I have loved you…

Well, he keeps saying this doesn’t he?

Romans 5:8, Paul teaches us that Jesus demonstrated / proved his love in that while we were sinners, separated from God, he died for us.

1 John 3:16 this is how we know what love is: He laid down his life for us… we should lay down our lives for our brothers…

Well Now… this is more clear and more hard… but I still can just do it for my “friend” right?

Well… sort of… Jesus said, you are MY friends IF you do what I have commanded…

What did he command? Love one another and remain in my love…

Jesus’ disciples had come a long way here in John’s Gospel. From chapter one as seekers, to followers, to followers, to disciples, to servants, and now toward friendship.

v15 I have called you friends… have made known to you what I heard from my Father. 16 you did not choose me, I chose you.

I’ve always thought, as someone who had been picked LAST sometimes on the playground, blessed to know, Jesus picked me FIRST.

So, when I choose to obey, to love, to show love, do love, then feel love… it is not about me, and not even about those… it is about being a Friend of Jesus!

You are my beloved, dear one, friend if you do (poieo = to make, fashion, do, accomplish) what I command you

Yes, Lord, I love you, I am grateful for the opportunity to be more than a servant, but a friend.

This is Love – lay down your living life (psyche = soul, breath, life)

Oswald Chambers in speaking on this

• “we are not made for brillant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways”
• “If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for him”
• “Salvation is ‘easy’ because it costs God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult

Alright then, child of God, Servant of God, Let’s grow into Friend of God.