A New Command - Love

Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34, 35

This passage is part of the Passover discourse that Jesus had with his disciples just before his death. After the meal is over, the washing of the feet, this conversation. Ch 13-17. The emphasis is on love. Jesus is now re-emphasizing and explaining the new commandment that he had given earlier through the illustration of the vine.

A call to remain in the love of Christ (v9, 10)

“As…….love you” (15:9). Here Jesus re-iterates his love for the disciples because he knew one was going to deny him and another betray him, they would desert him, one would doubt him as one had doubted him at the beginning of his ministry, and there were two who were ambitious. So he is drawing their attention to how the he loves them. It is not that Jesus loved them but loves them – something not just of the past but present and continuous. Love has no vacation or season. God’s love doesn’t change however much humans change.

We are reminded that the source of love is God. Love is a result of God’s self-giving activity. So love is a human possibility because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). Believers can experience the same love that he loved Jesus. In return love others.

Just as God loved this world and sent his son Jesus now Jesus wants the disciples who had experienced that love to continue to remain in that love. To remain in the fellowship of the father and the son Jesus gives the disciples just one command to be kept, that too is a choice, 15:10 ‘if you obey……”, “love each other as I have loved you”.  

Only if we love each other that we can love God and remain in his love. Now those who don’t follow this command are liars. Says 1 John 4:20. So people can be pillars of the church, they can hold the highest positions in the church, they can be powerful but if there is no love between the body of Christ, all what they do is lost, for it is not out of love for God.

A call to a new relationship (v13,14)

He wanted them to share a relationship with him. To be partners and his representatives. A relationship to be a friend.

Jesus didn’t want his disciples to be bond slaves or robots. Friendship based on love, trust and sacrificing of one’s life. Now sacrifice doesn’t mean death only. It is the willingness to go an extra mile. To break with our status quo for the betterment for another. Not to be like a leader of a church who once said I don’t help anyone unless they ask me, even if I see them walking into a well. When asked the reason why, his response was, I don’t want to be snubbed. Love goes to the furthest corner at any cost facing anything to reconcile, forgive, reach out and bring people into the fellowship of God. So our friendship with Jesus should translate into friendship with one another.

Once again the role model – his and the Father’s and his own relationship with them. True friends trust, love, obey, sacrifice their lives for each other, they are open, there are no secrets between them. This kind of relationship is described only of two people who had a close and intimate relationship with God. Abraham (James 2:232, 2 Chron 20:7) and Moses (Ex 33:11).

How friendly are we with Jesus? Friendly to the level that He confides in us, and makes his covenant known to us? (Ps 25:14) Take a few moments and think about all those you associate with and call your friends. How many can be truly called friends? Actually many are only acquaintances only a few are friends. Special friends, best friends, close friend, intimate friend.

We can identify ourselves with the disciples. Our friendship to each other and with God may not be perfect but Jesus’ friendship with us is perfect. We may abandon our friendship with him. But he doesn’t. He loves us at any cost. And we stand challenged.

A call to bear fruit (v16)

Everyone on this earth is here with a purpose. I don’t think anyone here is born, out of God’s purpose. Maybe things are different today. That purpose is to bear fruit. Fruit, that is not seasonal. Continue to bear fruit as Jesus’ friends. Fruit, that never ceases to bear. Eg: Farmville.

Just as the vine gives the branches all the energy it needs to bear fruit, we are called to remain in Him, to bear fruit.

The quality and quantity of the fruit will reveal to the world that the church / Christians are Disciples of Christ. Acts give us some examples. The church in Antioch was 1^st called Christians - followers of Christ because something different was seen in them. So in 15:8 he says “This…….disciples”. Love translated into words, actions and behavior that will show who we are.

Friends of Jesus bear fruits which is juicy, tasty and not sour and green. Fruit, which will be useful for others. Fruit, that people will want. The fruit that he is expecting is love. Everyone who abides in him has to bear fruit. Those who don’t don’t abide in him. Now we can say but, I come to church, I help out, I am involved and we can list out our activities.

The bible doesn’t tell us that we will be identified as disciples of Christ by our dressing, by our status, the type of houses we live, the type of people we associate it. It doesn’t tell us that we will be recognized by our regular worship, attending bible studies, prayer groups and worship concerts (not saing not needed). (13:34, 35) It tells us “A new……..one another”.

If they don’t push us to love each other, if they don’t translate into actions of love which we read in 1 Cor 13 our list of activities will come to nothing though.  

So we ask ourselves, in the light of the gospel, am I a fruit bearing Christian? Is the Church a fruit bearing community? How do others know we are followers of Christ?

If the church is loving one another, if it a friend of Jesus then is the fruit seen? If so why is the world still yearning for love? Why are husband and wives looking for love outside their relationships? Why are children looking for love outside the home? Why are Christians looking for love outside the church?

We may have reasons, we may justify but let us remind ourselves that we are gathered here this morning because of the fruit of twelve friends of Jesus who loved each. 

We are challenged to return to Jesus. Live our lives in fellowship with him. Live lives which will bear fruit. That’s why Jesus says 14:15,16………………………..

To conclude we have to look to and model our lives on Jesus. He is our role model. Then our joy will be made complete in the risen Lord Jesus.