John 15:9-17 (NRSV)
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Verse 9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. Verse 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. Verse 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. Verse 12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Verse 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. Verse 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. Verse 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. Verse 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. Verse 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Devotion
Mention John 15 and we immediately think of us as sheep and Jesus as shepherd. But we are beyond that in these verses. Here we are Jesus' friends – not even servants, certainly more responsible creatures than sheep. Sheep may jump over a low barrier if their predecessor does so. They may jump even if the barrier has been removed. Sheep are not wise or responsible enough to keep commandments. But we can. We can even ponder what it must have been like to lay down one’s life for our friends as Jesus did for us. We have more than enough to try to digest from all that God has revealed to us via his Son. And beyond all this, we can experience the great joy which comes of being loved by God. How different this is from what the rest of the world knows about God and Jesus and life.
Prayer
Father, help us respond in mind, heart and in living to your loving gifts to us as Jesus' friends. Amen.