Do you think Jesus a bit demanding of his friends in verse 14? 'you are my friends if you do what I command.' I would say that a person who follows the commands of another is that persons servant, not their friend.
But our relationship with Jesus is modelled on his relationship with his Father, here in John 15. Jesus relationship to the Father is submission to his will, but it isn't blind submission that is forced to do what he's told. It is willing submission - just as Jesus said earlier in John that no-one takes his life from him but he himself lays it down and takes it up again. Jesus and God the Father have their wills so aligned that they share the same goals, have the same ambitions. The difference between servants and friends Jesus wants to show us in verse 15 is that he doesn't just call us to blind obedience, but he has let us in on the plans and the strategy. We don't just blindly obey, but we obey in love - we have been given a new heart and the Holy Spirit to live God's way. Loving and obeying Jesus is what makes our joy complete! (v11)
The other thing I guess, is that no matter who you are, the right way to respond to the King of the Universe is obedience, even and especially as a friend. Jesus isn't a friend who doesn't care about us - he has modelled love and obedience by his great love for us in his sacrifice for our sins in obedience to his Father.
Jesus doesn't just command us to love and obey him, but also to love one another. And not with any ordinary love, but as he has loved us, as he lay down his life for us. Is this the kind of commitment you have for your brothers and sisters in Christ, that you would lay down your life for them? Sometimes we don't realise the impact our own actions have on our brothers and sisters in Christ. It can be the greatest encouragement simply to receive a phone call to ask how we're going. It can be a huge expression of love to be offered help in a difficult time.
Church isn't just about getting your 'fix' for the week, it's actually about loving and serving one another - before, during and after the service, through our conversations, through the exercise of our gifts. Have you ever thought about who is impacted when you decide not to come to Church because it is a rainy cold day? It's not just you who is impacted - but the whole congregation around you. they miss out on experiencing your love, your gifts, your presence with us.
We know Church isn't just a building, it's the people... But does that thinking translate into how you attend Church? Do you have Congregational Loyalty? Are you committed to this bunch of people, to their Christian growth and godliness? To building them up through the exercise of your gifts? Is that what love for one another might look like? I'm sure it means this and plenty more to boot - what do you think?
yours in Christ,
Ben Boardman (Assistant Minister)
Tomorrows Readings: Deuteronomy 10, John 16.
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