March 21
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. – John 15:12-17
JOHN 15 THE GREATER LOVE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Jesus laid down his life to show love that is unconditional
The greater love he showed is one that is sacrificial
He doesn’t love like the world does which is transactional
It looks after its own self and isn’t selfless to serve others
God commands us to love one another if we truly love him
By this, we will manifest the result of being freed from sin.
Jesus continues to reassure his disciples before his sacrifice on the cross. He gives his last will to them. They were commanded to love one another. The love he expects from them is the same love as he will give them when he sacrifices his life on the cross. What does it truly mean to lay down one’s life for a friend? It doesn’t literally mean that we kill our bodies or save them from death. It is a figure of speech which means for us to be selfless and not selfish. Because our nature wants to focus on the self and not on others, it can be truly challenging for us to follow the Spirit’s call. Jesus explains to his disciples that God chose us first so that we are able to love because it flows from his own love for us. He calls his disciples friends and no longer servants because they now know what the Father wants them to do and servants are usually not privy to their master’s motives or activities. Jesus taught them everything that the Father commands them so that they can continue to live like his own children too. It can be challenging to love one another especially those difficult people, but if God’s love flows in your heart, you will be able to.
REFLECTION
• What are the challenges of loving someone when they don’t know God?
