John 15:14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
Yesterday we considered Jesus’ incredible words recorded in John 15:13. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” Verse 14 reveals who it is that Jesus lays down His life for. He does not lay down His life for everyone. He lays down His life for His friends. And who are His friends? His friends are obvious. They are those who do what He commands them to do. And there would have been no question in the disciples’ minds as to what He had commanded them to do. He had repeated it twice to them in John 13:34 and 15:12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” In my paraphrase, “My friends are those who live their lives for one purpose: to love with Me those the Father has given Me and therefore bear fruit for the glory and joy of My Father.” To do that, we must lay down living for ourselves, adopt Jesus’ purpose as our own, and live through Him.” Are you a friend of Jesus for whom He laid down His life? I sure hope so!
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
