“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” – John 15:13 – NKJV
Christ Jesus, who would lay down His life for us as sacrifice and redemption for our sins, tells the Disciples how God’s love is unconditional and how God’s love is overflowing beyond description.
But what about our love for God? What about our love for Jesus?
I cling to my flesh; I remember my sinful desires. I believe that Jesus died for me, but if He wants me to “follow” Him, I don’t think I can do it. (Isn’t this what we all think when we resist doing what we know God wants us to do?)
While we brandish our ‘freedom’ to choose to do whatever we want (perhaps even as ‘grace’), most of us struggle with two principles of relationship taught by Jesus Christ: sacrifice and obedience.
We want to ignore the advice of Jesus (whom we call, ‘Lord‘) when he said:
“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” – John 12:25
And:
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” – Luke 9:23
These sound a lot like ‘conditions’ from Christ Jesus (whom we call, ‘Lord‘). For that matter, another thing Jesus said (which we would rather ignore) is:
“… whoever does not obey [apeitheō] the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” – John 3:36b
Are you apathetic about Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
Jesus asked the crowds who claimed His Name:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” – Luke 6:36
Someone (of a higher authority) gives a command and having no choice, you choose to obey. (But you don’t like it, do you?)
If GOD, the ALL-POWERFUL Creator of life, accountant of your days and judge of your soul – if the LORD GOD gives you a command, can you choose anything but to obey?
Of course… we often (and regrettably) do not obey our Lord.
I remind us of all this to point to what Jesus said just prior to His oft-quoted “Greater love has no man than this…” application, which He did fulfill for us on the Cross.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. – John 15:14
Imagine Jesus ‘commanding’ you to love other Christians as He has loved you. Can you do it? (Many of us are most difficult to love.)
We expect the grace of this Savior we call ‘Lord’ to cover our lack of love for others, but we must not imagine that Jesus has only suggested it.
Our Lord has spoken it to us as His “command.”
Once again, think of yourself as a ‘follower’ of Jesus (even to the cross, if you must… even at some personal sacrifice, if you must) – put yourself in the well-worn sandals of Jesus’ Disciples and hear our ‘Lord’ in the eyes of your heart:
John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Lord, you have commanded me, your saint and servant, heir to the life and the love of the house of the LORD, forever.
Have you ever lamented: “Where are my ‘christian’ ‘friends? Have you ever wondered, “Where are my’ fellow ‘saints’ who would lay down their life for me?”
It is to our shame that any member of our church should have to ask for the love of Jesus in us.
For our ‘Lord’ and Savior has spoken His commandment to you and to me:
“…love one another as I have loved you,”
Why does the prodigal wife drown her meaninglessness in booze asking: ‘Is that all there is?’ rather than remembering the blood of Christ, whom she once called, “Lord?” Why does she betray her vow to her husband and to her ‘Lord?’