No Greater Love
John 15 in total is one of the most revealing, instructional, personal chapters in the New Testament. It is known as the ‘vine and branch’ text. They are all words of Jesus to his disciples. He demonstrates how we can produce fruit, more fruit and much fruit in our lives. Simply by abiding in him. And how love is obedience, and obedience is love. He goes on to share that he wants us to experience his joy, fully and completely.
He tells them that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends. Then he tells them that they could be his friends if they did what he commanded them. And he shares that they were no longer just servants, because a servant does not know what the master is doing. Then he tells them “but I have called you friends”. Jesus explains how this could be. Because everything he had heard from his Father, he had made known to them.
You Are Chosen
This may shock some of you. Jesus then states—“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”. He follows it up with a great promise and command. “that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another”.
Yes, Jesus chose you and he is calling you his friend. He laid down his life for ‘his friends’. In Proverbs 18.24b, we see “But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”. That’s Jesus in spades!! He is one friend on whom you can depend, always.
How does that make you feel?
