“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as
I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life
for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave
does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all
things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not
choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father
in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another. John
15:12-17
The Law of Christ: Love the Brethren. It is His command. How
do we do this? Just as He loved us. Completely. Unconditionally. Without
exception. As a matter of policy.
The greatest demonstration of love is to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends. This does not mean to die, physically, although it can
include physical death. Laying down one’s life means to put others’ needs
before one’s own. It is the exact opposite of “free spirit” living, in which
one has no consideration for anyone else’s sensibilities or expectations, and
does it “my way.” Laying down one’s life is what a mother does, to protect and
provide for her young. She could theoretically be soaking up rays on a beach,
sipping rum punch instead of diapering, cooking, cleaning, running errands, kissing
boo-boos and cuddling the whining little ones twenty-four-seven. Laying down one's life is what husbands and wives do, putting each other's wants and needs before their own. Laying down
one’s life is what the shepherd does, rather than just putting the sheep out to
pasture, at the mercy of the wolves, while he eats, drinks and pursues happiness all day. It takes patience, compassion
and sensitivity to the spiritual and physical needs of others. It is family
responsibility. We are Royal Family of God.
Jesus came to die for our sins and be resurrected. That was
His finale in the earthly mission. To get to that, He first had to leave His
glorious home in the heavenlies, be born a helpless infant under the authority
of limited humans; live and work in a body of flesh among smelly, ignorant
people for 33 years; preach His precious truth to an obstinate, self-righteous
people who were hostile to Him; recruit and train these ordinary working men for discipleship. Then the time came for Him to face the terrible ordeal of being
separated from the Father and Spirit on that cross, while being crushed under
our sins. His dismissal of His spirit was His exit from the drudgery He had
endured in those years of laying down His life for us. Finally, it was finished and He could
return home. I marvel at the sacrifice He made by condensing and confining His
eternal being into that individual human body for those years, submitting to
the limits of time and space. He didn’t have to do it. It was done for love, to
give us life.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
10:15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
10:17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
10:18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
John 15:14 “You are My friends (philos—personal, intimate,
familiar friends) if you (3rd class condition—maybe you will) do what I
command you.
This is a new intimacy Jesus introduced to the eleven as He
approached the cross. They were no longer servants, but His friends, with whom
He was sharing the mysterious doctrines of the Church, decreed by the Father. This
information would become real to them after the Holy Spirit baptized and indwelt
them in the very near future. They had been chosen and ordained by Him, and
given these truths to remember and cherish. These were divine operating assets
that would enable them to continue His work in the world—preaching, teaching
and producing divine good for eternity.
In order to fulfill those responsibilities, they would have
to stick to the priorities He had given them, beginning with love for one
another. The brethren. Believers of the same kind. There is strength in
brotherhood, and comfort and confidence. In a hostile world they and we need
all of that we can get. This is not superficial “warm fuzzies,” but honest, straight-forward,
no-nonsense, deliberate kindness, consideration and intercessory prayer support
for the spiritual well-being of our fellow believers, in whom Christ lives.
I John 3:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life
for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
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