September 20, 2023 – Wednesday
John 15:9-13, 17 1599 GNV
9 [a]As the father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue in that my love.
10 If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love than this hath no man, when any man bestoweth his life for his friends.
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17 These things command I you, that ye love one another.
John 15:9-13, 17 NIV
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
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17 This is my command: Love each other.
Comments
The GNV uses a very interesting phrase in its comment to verse 9, an inseparable knot, which I had never considered before. Here is the comment in full, The love of the Father towards the Son, and of the Son towards us, and ours towards God and our neighbor, are joined together with an inseparable knot: and there is nothing more sweet and pleasant than it is. Now this love showeth itself by its effects: a most perfect example whereof, Christ himself exhibited unto us
Jesus ends verse 9 with Now remain in my love. Then in verse 10 He tells us how to remain in His love, 10 If ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. Jesus repeats what He said earlier in John 14:15, If you love me, keep my commandments. Thus, Jesus ties real discipleship with obedience to His command in honoring His words. The result of obedience, abiding in His love is revealed in verse 11, 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. Notice, this is not just about joy, but HIS joy, His gladness would remain in us! This brings to mind, what Eric Liddell said in the movie Chariots of Fire: “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.” And introduction to Eric Liddell’s real story may be found here.
Finally, we have His command and how it is put into action, GNV 12 This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love than this hath no man, when any man bestoweth his life for his friends or NIV 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. His love, as He had loved them, was to be the standard to measure their love for one another. They may not have initially understood His final statement herein, but in a few short hours they would when He would give His life on the cross for them and all mankind. And a fuller complete understanding after He rose on the third day.
Like any great teacher, He repeats what was most important, so in verse 17 we have again, GNV 17 These things command I you, that ye love one another or NIV 17 This is my command: Love each other. With everything else that happens that may distract us we are to always remember, This is my command: Love each other.
Bottom Line: Through obedience we remain abiding in His love and always remembering His command to love one another.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to always bring my heart back into obedience abiding in Jesus and loving one another. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek