Jesus Christ spoke tenderly with His disciples, before giving Himself as a sacrifice for mankind’s sin on the cross at Calvary. This great sacrifice would open the door for His friends to enter into an eternal and intimate life-union with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Yeshua made this vitally important decree, “So, this is my command: Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you. For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends” (John15:12-13tPt). The Aramaic word for “friends” is actually “family,” or “relatives.”
Jesus charges His disciples to willingly lay down their soul for others, because sacrificial love is the most pure, powerful, and greatest love! What does this love look like? “Love suffers long, and is kind; love envies not; love vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1Corinthians 13). So, the Lord gives this command to walk in sacrificial love, and continues on; “You show that you are my intimate friends when you obey all that I command you (John 15:14tPt).
Even though it was the disciples heart desire to obey their Lord, at this point most of them, other than Peter, knew they did not have the power nor ability to walk in sacrificial love. Peter’s heart was deceived by religious pride, as he boldly told the Lord he would lay down his life for him, only to deny the Lord three times when under pressure. Yet, in time Peter humbled himself, repented, and God’s powerful love was developed in his heart.
When Jesus gave this command, He knew his disciples would not be able to obey! He then met them at their point of need and proclaimed, “Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in and being vitally united to the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine: you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much fruit. However, apart from Me you can do nothing” (John15:4-5amp).
Many times, we have all personally fallen short! The enemy condemns us, and tempts us to turn back from the seemingly unattainable commands of the Lord. Yet, it is God’s desire to grow His love within each of our hearts. We must first remember that without Him we can do nothing! It is a necessity to humble ourselves before the Living God, and ask for more and more grace in our time of need! Most importantly, we must remember to continually run back to Jesus, time and again, especially when we fall short! His arms are open to those who need Him! Jesus said, “I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. Let my love nourish your hearts” (John159tPt). Jesus was nourished and empowered by His Father’s love.
It is God’s will to develop and grow the fruit of pure love in the hearts of His beloved ones. Jesus said, “When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness!”
