JOHN 15:9-17 ”THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU

John 15:9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 "These things I command you, that you love one another.

 Jesus begins by telling them that He has spoken all these things that we might be full of joy in our lives. Jesus did not come so that we would be miserable, but joyful. Then He commands us to love one another as He has loved us by being willing to lay down our life if necessary. He gave Himself totally and completely because of His great love with which He loved us (Eph 2:4). This is the greatest kind of love that gives everything including our lives. Then He tells us that we are saved (His Friends) if we love like this and whatever else He asks us to do. He also says He will show us what He is doing and we will know the will of the Father and all He the Father has told Him. Lastly, He tells us that He is the one who chose us and did it so that we would bear fruit. Then He repeats the command that we love one another. This is very important that we love one another because we are all a part of each other and God and the Bible says that God is love.

 9 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

Love is an action, not an emotion

Fifth blessing of abiding is that your life will be motivated by love.

In the love that I have for you.” Our love for Christ is the result of Christ’s love for us and is grounded at bottom in the Father’s love for the world (3:16).

This chain of loving relationships characterizes God’s family; the Father loves the Son, the Son loves His followers, His followers love one another.[i]

Abiding in His love is not automatic; it is something which we are commanded to do, and which takes effort and action on our part (albeit, inspired and empowered by God—see Philippians 2:12-13). Abiding in Christ requires the self-discipline that Paul talks about (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) and which the Holy Spirit produces (see 1 Timothy 1:7).

Psalm 89:33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or •be false to my faithfulness. 

As the Father loved him, who was most worthy, he loved them, who were most unworthy. The Father loved him as his Son, and he loves them as his children. The Father gave all things into his hand; so, with himself, he freely giveth us all things.[ii]

Jesus now speaks of abiding in Him as abiding in His love. Our Lord’s love for His disciples is like the Father’s love for Him. As our Lord speaks, He is virtually standing in the shadow of the cross. How can He speak of the Father’s love for Him at a time like this? Usually, we tend to emphasize the Father’s love for us, and that this love prompted Him to send His Son to the cross (see Ephesians 2:4). I believe we must also recognize that the Father sent the Son to Calvary out of His love for the Son, as well as out of His love for lost sinners. How can this be? Dying on the cross of Calvary was indeed an act of humility on our Lord’s part (see Philippians 2:5-8), but it was also intended for His greater exaltation:

Philippians 2:9-11 9 As a result [of His death on Calvary, as described in the previous verses] God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue should confess to the glory of God the Father that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Colossians 1:18-2018 He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead so that he himself may become first in all things. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him 20 and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—whether things on the earth or things in heaven (; see also Eph 1:18-23).

 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

Each involves the other (love and keeping the commandments of Jesus). And abide. The high example of Jesus (the Son) in relation to the Father is set before us as the goal.[iii]

We abide in His love when we keep His commandments

A believer is motivated by the wonder of Jesus’ love, which is patterned after the Father’s love in its quality and extent. Remain in My love might seem to be mystical but Jesus makes it very concrete. Obedience to the Father’s commands is the same for a disciple as it was for the Son (cf. 14:15, 21, and 23 ;). Active dependence and loving obedience are the proper paths for all of God’s children.

3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 3:22 22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 1 John 3:24 24 whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, 4 and God5 in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. 

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.

Our Lord does not say that we abide in His love “if we keep His commandment (singular),” but rather if we “keep His commandments” (plural). Here, Jesus does not say that we abide in His love when we “keep the law.”

I believe that our Lord avoided the term “law” here and employed the word “commandments” because He did not want to give legalistic Judaisers an occasion to attempt to put the Gentiles under the Old Testament law.

The Judaisers separated the law from love,[iv] though they should not have done so:

“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments”[v] (Deuteronomy 7:9, NKJV, emphasis mine).

Jesus inseparably joins love and commandment keeping. Jesus summed up the whole law by two commandments, both of which were commands to love:

Matthew 22:34-40- 34 Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. 35 And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is like it, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments” ().

The Judaisers seemed to be ignorant of the fact that the law was given out of love. God gave Israel the law because of His love for those He had chosen to be His people (Deuteronomy 7:7, 12-13; 10:14-16). He expected His people to obey His law out of their love for Him (Deuteronomy 7:9; 30:16). Whenever we separate God’s love from God’s law, we get ourselves into trouble.

God gave the law out of His great love for His people. What God prohibited, He prohibited for man’s own good. What He required, He required for man’s own good. The law is a manifestation of God’s love for His people.[vi] No wonder the psalmists can say these things about God’s law:

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:1-2, NKJV).

The law of God should be the delight of every saint because it is a manifestation of God’s love. God gave us His law to keep us from those things which would destroy us and to point us to the only One who can save us—Jesus Christ. Whenever we begin to look upon God’s commands as something other than an expression of God’s love, then we are headed for serious trouble.

For example, consider the account of the fall of man in Genesis 3

11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

Obedience brings joy therefore we will have the Joy of our Lord.

Sixth blessing of abiding is that your life will be overflowing with Joy.

Jesus had great joy in pleasing His Father by living a fruitful life

(cf. Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.). The purpose of His teaching is to give man an abundant life, not a joyless existence (John 10:10). The commands for His disciples to obey are for their joy (cf. Joh 17:13 "But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.).

That your joy might be full; not only that you might be full of joy, but that your joy in me and in my love may rise higher and higher, till it come to perfection, when you enter into the joy of your Lord.’ ’ Note, [1.] Those and those only that have Christ’s joy remaining in them have their joy full; worldly joys are empty, soon surfeit but never satisfy. It is only wisdom’s joy that will fill the soul, Ps 36:8 They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

Our joy is very different …

First and foremost, our joy is really His joy (John 15:11; 17:13). As we abide in Him and He in us, we experience great joy from those things that bring Him joy, as we would also be grieved by what grieves Him.

Second, the disciples had a very special joy. As they were greatly grieved at the death of their Master, their joy at seeing Him alive, raised from the dead, can hardly be described (see John 16:22; 20:20; 21:7).

Third, joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:42; Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6).

Fourth, we have joy when we become born-again Christians by faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 8:5-8; Romans 15:13).

Fifth, we rejoice when others come to faith in Christ, as well as when they grow in their faith (Acts 11:23; 15:13; 2 Corinthians 7:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20; 3:9; Philemon 1:7; Hebrews 13:17; 1 John 1:4).

Sixth, we have joy in taking part in the plans and purposes of a sovereign God, even when this brings about our own suffering (Acts 4:23-31).

Seventh, we find joy in doing that which brings the Father’s approval (Hebrews 12:2).

Eighth, we have joy in sacrificial service (2 Corinthians 8:2).

Ninth, we have joy in being with other saints and enjoying their fellowship (Philippians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Timothy 1:4; 2 John 1:12).

Tenth, we have joy when we ask God for what He desires and for what we need, and in seeing Him answer our prayers (John 16:24).

 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Keep on loving is the verb usage - “that ye keep on loving one another.” See 13:34.

Previous command was to:

Mt 22:39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

This refers to Jesus’ vicarious, substitutionary atonement (cf. 10:11; Rom. 5:7–8). This is love in action!

“Self-sacrifice is the high-water mark of love”

Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments in Lu 10:27 So he answered and said," 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'"

I believe Jesus is restating that in that Loving God is the first four commandments and the last 6 have to do with loving your neighbor.  If you love God you will keep the first 4 and if you love your neighbor then you will keep the last 6.

But Jesus was also upping the level of love required, we can only love our neighbor as yourself without the Holy Spirit and being saved, but with Him, we can love at a new level where we willfully love and are willing to give up everything for our friends.

 14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you

It gives the condition for friendship, which is obedience (cf. 14:15, 23–24; 15:10; Luke 6:46).

We must not interpret this word friend in a limited way, because the Greek word means “a friend at court.” It describes that “inner circle” around a king or emperor. (In John 3:29, it refers to the “best man”, at a wedding.) The “friends of the king” would be close to him and know his secrets, but they would also be subject to him and have to obey his commands. There is thus no conflict between being a friend and being a servant.

Keep on doing my commands is the verb usage

“If ye keep on doing,” not just intermittent obedience. Just a different way of saying what is in verse 10. Obedience to Christ’s commands is a prerequisite to discipleship and fellowship (spiritual friendship with Christ). He repeats it in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:20,

Genesis 18:17 17 The Lord said•, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,

Each of us is as close to God as we choose to be.” We are His friends, and we ought to be near the throne, listening to His Word, enjoying His intimacy, and obeying His commandments.

 15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Normally, a slave does what he is told without understanding his master’s mind or business

Jesus called His disciples friends because He had disclosed His Father’s revelation to them.

 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Jesus then reminded them that contrary to the common practice of disciples picking a teacher, Jesus had chosen them (cf. John 15:19). The purpose of His choosing was so that they would produce lasting fruit. He chose them for a mission, and His Father would answer their requests in order to accomplish that mission (whatever you ask in My name;

We keep our ears open and listen to what He says to us. “Hast thou heard the secret of God?” (Job 15:8) “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant” (Ps. 25:14). We must be attentive and alert.

Note three present active subjunctives with ἱνα [hivna] (purpose clause) to emphasize continuance (ὑπαγητε [hupagēte], keep on going, φερητε [pherēte], keep on bearing fruit, μενῃ [menēi], keep on abiding), not a mere spurt, but permanent growth and fruit-bearing. He may give (δῳ [dōi]). Second aorist active subjunctive of διδωμι [didōmi] with ἱνα [hina] (purpose clause). Cf. 14:13 for the same purpose and promise, but with ποιησω [poiēsō] (I shall do). See also 16:23f. 26.[vii]

As the Father loved him, who was most worthy, he loved them, who were most unworthy. The Father loved him as his Son, and he loves them as his children. The Father gave all things into his hand; so, with himself, he freely giveth us all things.[viii]

 17 "These things I command you, that you love one another.

Answered prayer is linked to love and mission!

 John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.

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