Love one another John 15:12-27

ICEL 1. Relationship among disciples 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. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: love each other.

ICEL 1. Relationship among disciples Self-sacrificial compassion of Franciscan friar Maximilian KolbeSelf-sacrificial compassion of Franciscan friar Maximilian Kolbe Anticipation to what Jesus will do on the cross (v13)Anticipation to what Jesus will do on the cross (v13) Not for one innocent man but once and for all ( ἐ φάπαξ) who are guiltyNot for one innocent man but once and for all ( ἐ φάπαξ) who are guilty Not only cancel our punishmentNot only cancel our punishment But forgive us, cleanse usBut forgive us, cleanse us And even count us among his closest friends (v14)And even count us among his closest friends (v14) Obedience, but no blind obedience (v15)Obedience, but no blind obedience (v15) Christian love: ἀ γάπη (v12, 17) – Matth 22:36-40Christian love: ἀ γάπη (v12, 17) – Matth 22:36-40 God’s choice for us (v16)God’s choice for us (v16)

ICEL 2. Relationship between disciples and the world 18 ‘If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: “A servant is not greater than his master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

ICEL 2. Relationship between disciples and the world 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: “They hated me without reason.”

ICEL 2. Relationship between disciples and the world Contrast: intimately love versus radical hatredContrast: intimately love versus radical hatred Little has changed during the last 20 centuries:Little has changed during the last 20 centuries: Christians still need to be encouraged to loveChristians still need to be encouraged to love The world is still hostileThe world is still hostile They demonstrate their forbearance and large-hearted goodness when they confront diverse opinions, varied lifestyles and even idiotic practices. But if some Christian claims that Christianity is exclusive (as Jesus insisted), or that moral absolutes exist because they are grounded in the character of God (as the Bible teaches), or that there is a hell to be shunned as well as a heaven to be gained, the most intemperate language is used to excoriate the poor fool. The world hates. D. A. Carson (Jesus’ Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer)

ICEL 2. Relationship between disciples and the world Why does the world hate Christ ?Why does the world hate Christ ? Christ exposes sin (v22, 24)Christ exposes sin (v22, 24) Why does the world hates us as Christians ?Why does the world hates us as Christians ? Because we are differentBecause we are different Different calling: we do not belong to the world (v19)Different calling: we do not belong to the world (v19) Different Master: we serve Jesus, not Satan (v20)Different Master: we serve Jesus, not Satan (v20) Different knowledge: we know the Father (v21)Different knowledge: we know the Father (v21)

ICEL 3. Disciples’ response to a hostile world 26 ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.

ICEL 3. Disciples’ response to a hostile world Promise of the Holy SpiritPromise of the Holy Spirit Spirit of truth, sent by the FatherSpirit of truth, sent by the Father Will testify about Jesus ChristWill testify about Jesus Christ The Holy Spirit uses the apostles (eyewitnesses) and us to testify about JesusThe Holy Spirit uses the apostles (eyewitnesses) and us to testify about Jesus

ICEL LET US … Love one another Because God is love and loved us first Because it fulfils the commands of Jesus Love one another To support and encourage one another, to be united in facing the opposition from a hostile world Love one another To testify, with the help of the Holy Spirit, about God and His love, and bear fruit

ICEL 1 John 4, 7-8 (New King James Version) 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Beloved, let us love one another.